World Bank Roundup

Cameroon. Approved May 30: International Development Association(IDA) credit of $60.7 million for a transport sector project tohelp finance the resumption of a road maintenance program. Thecredit will contribute to a three-year period of the program andwill also help finance a rural transport infrastructure maintenanceprogram, construction of two weighing stations, purchase of dataprocessing supplied and equipment, technical assistance, consultingservices, training, surveys and seminars. For more information,call Eric Chinje (202) 473-4467, fax 473-7917, e-mail echinje@worldbank.org.

China.Approved May 30: International Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment (IBRD) loan of $210 million for a second highway projectin the Henan province, including: construction of a 136-km, four-lane,divided, access-controlled highway between Luoyang and Sanmenxia;construction of a 6-km Ynagjia-Baijiazhai connection; improvementof four linking roads (17 km); improvement and construction ofabout 1,700 km of rural roads; a highway safety component; institutionalstrengthening; and equipment for maintenance, monitoring, institutionalstrengthening and highway safety.

Approved May 30: IBRD loan of $60 million and IDA credit of $90million for the Gansu Hexi corridor project, to build the ChangmaDam on the Shule River to provide storage of about 100 millioncubic meters of water for irrigation and water supply. The projectwill also improve irrigation facilities in three districts andprovide support services in seed production, machinery, extension,applied research and livestock production. The project includesa resettlement program, environmental protection and managementcomponents, and institutional strengthening and support. For moreinformation, call Lauren Ptito (202) 458-0358, fax 522-3405, e-maillptito@worldbank.org.

Guinea. Approved June 4: IDA credit of $12.2 million to increasethe mining sector's contribution to national income and publicrevenues. The credit will provide financing for consulting servicesto improve the sector's legal and regulatory framework, increasethe efficiency of core government services, divest or reduce non-essentialservices, and help the government prepare plans for restructuring,privatization or liquidation. The project will also finance servicecontracts to deliver geophysical and geological data and maps.For more information, call Eric Chinje (202) 473-4467, fax 473-7917,e-mail echinje@worldbank.org.

Indonesia. .Approved June 4: IBRD loan of $20 million for a socialsector strategy and capacity building project that will providesupport to the National Development Planning Agency, line ministriesand the provinces. The line ministries include health, educationand culture, religious affairs, and social affairs. The projectwill help plan sector strategies, programs and investment priorities,and selected studies. It includes training and project administrationsupport. For more information, call Lauren Ptito (202) 458-0358,fax 522-3405, e-mail lptito@worldbank.org.

Lebanon.Approved May 30: IBRD loan of $50 million to supplementa $175 million emergency reconstruction and rehabilitation projectapproved in 1993. The loan will finance repairs to infrastructurefacilities, including water supply and wastewater facilities inthe Bekaa Valley, Mount Lebanon and southern Lebanon. For moreinformation, call Jeannie Yamine (202) 473-2318, fax 477-7978,e-mail jyamine@worldbank.org.

Nicaragua. Approved May 30: IDA credit of $25 million for a roadrehabilitation and maintenance project to strengthen the institutionsresponsible for road transport and to improve road maintenanceand conditions. The project includes: rehabilitation of the Izapa-Le¢n-Chinandegaroad; a pilot project to maintain 500 km of roads using privatemicroenterprises; technical assistance, training and studies;improvements in maintenance management, planning and operationsat the transport ministry; urban and inter-city transport studies;and preparation of future projects. For more information, callMario Del Carril (202) 473-6189, fax 522-3698, e-mail mdelcarril@worldbank.org.

Poland. Approved June 4: IBRD loan of $12 million and DM 13.2million for a water and wastewater project in the provincial capitalof Bielsko-Biala. The water supply component will upgrade threeexisting treatment plants and rehabilitate and improve the efficiencyof the transmission, pumping, storage and distribution systems.The wastewater component will upgrade and expand two treatmentplants and rehabilitate and improve the efficiency of the sewersystem. The project includes technical assistance and trainingand engineering services. For more information, call Jan Pakulski(202) 473-1797, fax 522-3362, e-mail jpakulski@worldbank.org.

Approved May 30: IBRD loan of $89 million for a capital marketdevelopment project that will provide advisory services, trainingand information technology to help build regulatory infrastructureand market architecture. The project will help build the institutionalcapacity of the securities and capital markets commission andsupport key regulatory programs. It will supply computer hardware,software and telecommunications equipment to organizations providingsecondary market trading services and to the finance ministry.

Russia. Approved May 30: two grants from the Global EnvironmentFacility (GEF) for an ozone depleting substances (ODS) consumptionphase-out project and a biodiversity conservation project. Thefirst grant ($60 million), the first for ODS phase-out in Russia,targets activities in the aerosol and refrigeration sectors; thesecond grant ($20.1 million) will help Russia maintain optimumlevels of biodiversity.

Approved June 4: IBRD loan of $270 million for a medical equipmentproject at primary and secondary health care facilities in 34selected oblasts. The project will provide medical equipment,consumable supplies, and technical and clinical training in theoperation and maintenance of equipment. It will also finance consultantservices for survey design and data collection, as well as computerhardware and software, to support the implementation of a systemof national health accounts. For more information, call Jan Pakulski(202) 473-1797, fax 522-3362, e-mail jpakulski@worldbank.org.

Slovenia. Approved May 30: IBRD loan of DM 34.6 million for atwo-part environmental project to reduce ambient concentrationsof particulates and sulfur dioxide in selected cities. The maincomponent will help provide sub-loans to households and operatorsof boiler houses to cover 80 percent of costs of conversions frompolluting fuels to cleaner fuels. A second component will provideequipment, technical assistance and training to the GeographicInformation System. For more information, call Jan Pakulski (202)473-1797, fax 522-3362, e-mail jpakulski@worldbank.org.

Venezuela. Approved June 4: IBRD loan of $39 million for a waterand sewerage decentralization project in the state of Monagas.The project includes technical assistance and equipment to allowthe water and sewerage company to contract management of servicesto the private sector, develop the capacity to generate institutionaland internal cash, plan engineering designs, and prepare expansionand management plans. It will also provide civil works and equipment,rehabilitation of treatment plants and potable water infrastructure,and a metering program. For more information, call Mario Del Carril(202) 473-6189, fax 522-3698, e-mail mdelcarril@worldbank.org.

West Bank and Gaza. Approved May 30: credit of $45 million fromthe Trust Fund for Gaza and the West Bank, at standard IDA terms,for a municipal infrastructure project that includes: rehabilitationand improvement of high priority road, water, wastewater and sanitationnetworks, systems, structures, plants and facilities; establishmentof maintenance and neighborhood upgrading programs; and technicalassistance and studies for sub-project preparation and supervision.A second project component will help local governments establishpolicy review committees and will support technical assistance.For more information, call Jeannie Yamine (202) 473-2318, fax477-7978, e-mail jyamine@worldbank.org.

Zambia. Approved June 4: IDA credit of $23 million for technicalassistance to support the government's economic recovery and investmentpromotion reforms, in particular the privatization of parastatalsand the reform of the legal framework governing business activity.The project will finance: advisory services to the governmentin the preparation and implementation of the privatization ofZambia Consolidated Copper Mines Ltd.; consultants and specialiststo help the privatization agency prepare about 30 public enterprisesfor sale; technical assistance and training to strengthen theMinistry of Mines and Mineral Development's ability to enforcethe new mining act and to supervise and promote the sector toprivate investors; and technical assistance. For more information,call Eric Chinje (202) 473-4467, fax 473-7917, e-mail echinje@worldbank.org.