Translated versions of this PSD: Russian | Tajik
Project Description
Financing for the construction of a 75 km long detour of the existing section of M41 road between the towns of Obigarm and Nurobod (the "Project"), which is planned to be inundated by the end of 2023. The M41 road is Tajikistan's primary east i west road, which connects Dushanbe with the border to Kyrgyz Republic and onwards to Kazakhstan and China. The road is part of the CAREC corridor programme which seeks to expand economic cooperation among the region's neighboring countries and is actively supported by bilateral and multilateral development institutions.
The Project financing is split among three IFIs: (i) a 30 km Section 1 to be financed by a grant from the ADB and a loan from OPEC Fund for International Development ("OFID"), (ii) a 44 km Section 2 to be financed by the EBRD (the "Bank") loan, and (iii) a 760 m automotive bridge construction across the Rogun HPP Reservoir, Section 3, to be financed by an AIIB loan.
Project Objectives
The Project will target one of the key barriers to economic and social development in the country i efficient and reliable functioning of transport corridors. The Project's principal objectives are: (i) the promotion of regional trade via the development of reliable and safe road corridors, (ii) the development of sustainable mechanisms for roads maintenance, and (ii) road safety improvements and improvement of environmental and social operation standards.
Transition Impact
Good
The expected transition impact of the Project is:
-
Resilient. The Project will facilitate building necessary institutional capacity and procedures for sustainable and efficient infrastructure asset management in Tajikistan, as well as supporting increased budget allocation for road maintenance operations.
- Inclusive. The Project will substantially increase access to economic opportunities of local populations in areas with low or no access points at all. In addition, the Ministry of Transport (the "MoT") will adopt significant improvements in human resource policy in line with the Project's Gender Action Plan.
Client Information
TAJIKISTAN SOVEREIGN
The MoT is the Project implementing agency, which has the overall responsibility for the organisation and management of the transport sector in Tajikistan.
EBRD Finance Summary
USD 150,000,000.00
A sovereign loan of up to US$ 150 million to the Republic of Tajikistan.
Total Project Cost
USD 402,000,000.00
Environmental and Social Summary
The Project is categorised A under EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy (2014). An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) disclosure package, including the ESIA for the whole alignment (and temporary bridge), Environmental and Social Management Plan (“ESMP”), Non-Technical Summary, Social and Gender Impact Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement Plan (“SEP”), Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan (“LARP”) and Environmental and Social Action Plan (“ESAP”) was disclosed on the EBRD website on the 12th July 2019.
The national Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) procedures are being addressed in liaison with the Competent Authorities and are expected to be completed prior to the Board consideration of the Project. Public hearings undertaken to date have not resulted in any new stakeholder concerns.
In 1984 the project alignment was approved with a small number of micro-realignments made since the original design to avoid a cemetery and address safety issues. Apart from the Rogun dam, the cumulative impact assessment did not identify any other major projects planned or in progress within the influence area of the project.
Recent consultations along the alignment with the affected communities, local district authorities found that people were supportive of the Project and route but had concerns regarding road safety, crossing points and compensation. In response, additional road safety design measures have been incorporated following a road safety audit completed in November 2018, including requirements for reduced speed limits in villages, pedestrian and animal crossing points, access roads and additional warning signs. As part of the Traffic Management Plan, the Contractor will also consult with local residents to establish processes and locations for safe livestock crossing within the proposed access roads. A further Road Safety Audit will be undertaken in consultation with the Ministry of Transport and will include engagement with local road traffic police.
The Environmental and Social Due Diligence (“ESDD”) completed by the Bank and its independent consultants confirmed that the Project has been structured to meet the EBRD’s Performance Requirements (2014). Findings from ESDD did however indicate that the capacity of the Project Implementation Unit for Roads Rehabilitation (“PIURR”) requires strengthening to ensure that the project will be implemented in line with the Banks PR’s. To address this, the Bank will be providing Technical Cooperation (“TC”) support to the PIU and also require that an Environmental and Social Management system, monitoring and reporting systems to be established.
Due to the location and the topography of the road alignment, various challenges in terms of occupational and community health and safety include the ability to react and respond to emergency situations in remote areas. Foreseeable emergency situations will be identified by the contractor and adequate resources made available, as required in the ESAP.
No protected areas are situated within the zone of influence of the project and limited impacts on biodiversity are expected due to the road being developed within an existing alignment and landscape that has been subject to human pressures for many years, particularly livestock grazing. A Biodiversity Management Plan (“BMP”) will however be prepared and implemented during the construction phase to require site practices to ensure habitats are not unnecessarily affected by the works and support general awareness raising.
Climate and seismic risks to the Project were reviewed under separate dedicated assessments which proposed mitigation measures including some structural and non-structural improvements. A Climate Resilience Construction Management Plan will be required to provide appropriate design measures such as increasing drainage capacity for extreme weather events, materials specification and mechanisms for the management of climate resilience risk.
The Project will include a TC focused on work with communities to develop local road safety partnerships, include a gender-sensitive and child focused road safety awareness campaign for roadside villages and schools, plus identify potential economic opportunities for women in road safety and maintenance. In addition gender equality and non-discrimination in the design, management and/or monitoring are to be implemented and monitored. A Gender Action Plan for the Project has also been agreed to also promote women’s economic participation in the Project.
It is expected that 157 households will be affected by land acquisition or economic displacement across the whole alignment. A Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan (LARP) has been prepared for each section and consultations with affected people have already started. Information about the Project, LARP and a Project Information Brochure detailing the Project-specific entitlements, government decree on the cut-off date and Grievance Redress Mechanism (“GRM”) have been provided. Grievance Redress Committees have been established at the Jamoat/village level in 17 villages with a Focal Person appointed at each village, and all include a female member.
It is estimated that approximately 1,100 construction workers will be engaged in activities across the alignment and a minimum of 50% of the workforce will be locally recruited where appropriate. Seven construction camps are anticipated to be required and locations will be selected to minimise impacts and will be subject to an environment and social assessment for each site. Accommodation and welfare facilities for workers will be designed to meet requirements of IFC/EBRD Worker Accommodation Guidance Note. Additional measures to address influx management and avoid potential conflict between the workforce and the local community, including Gender Based Violence, will be put in place. These include requirements for contractors to sign a Code of Conduct, the need for a Labour and Working Conditions Management Plan and an Occupational and Community Health and Safety Plan.
The the temporary bridge will be inundated by November 2025, so the permanent bridge at Darband will need to be constructed before this date. A supplementary ESIA will be provided when the detailed design is available.
Within the EBRD section there are 44.5km of access roads spread across the alignment which have been subject to a separate environmental and social assessment that will be made publicly available.
A Stakeholder Engagement Plan (“SEP”) has been prepared to identify key stakeholders and define communication channels and plans regarding the Project. In 2018 and 2019 a series of public consultation meetings were carried out along the alignment and included women only focus groups. The PIURR has an operational grievance mechanism already in place to address issues related to resettlement, E&S issues and information disclosure.
The ESIA includes a detailed Environmental and Social Management Plan for the Project, defining the mitigation measures to be applied on the contract by the PIURR and its contractors. In addition the Environmental and Social Action Plan includes additional requirements with respect to: the implementation of a Contractor Environmental and Social Management Plan and Occupational Health and Safety Plan in line with the PRs including training of workers; undertake Social, Community and Health reviews and maintain a social risk register for the Project; adopt a Design Change Management procedure; develop a Human Resources policy and procedures including a Code of Conduct; implementation of the grievance mechanism; develop a labour risk management and monitoring plan; implement a Gender Action Plan; implementation of the LARP, BMP and SEP.
A lenders' technical advisor will undertake quarterly audits of the Project during construction to assess performance in accordance with the Banks PRs and will report to the Lenders.
Technical Cooperation
The following technical cooperation (the "TC") assignments are envisaged as part of this project:
Pre-loan signing
- Assessment of climate change risks to the Project (€100,848 financed from Donor funded TC (Czech Republic Technical Cooperation Fund)).
- Technical road project advisor (€ 37,125 financed by the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund ("SSF")).
- Assessment of the suitability of using drone technology for the Project as well as the road sector in Tajikistan (€ 70,500 financed by the SSF).
Post-loan signing
- Project Implementation Support to assist the Client with the i) Project procurement, tendering and supervision of civil works, implementation and (b) environmental compliance. The estimated cost of the assignment is up to US$ 350,000 to be financed by the SSF.
- Regulatory Improvement Support to assist the Client with the Bank's transition agenda with a focus on the establishment of an executive type Road Agency. The Agency will need to implement a systems and network knowledge database for efficient management, and also establish regional representations to oversee contractors, co-ordinate planning and monitoring. The estimated cost of the assignment is up to US$ 500,000 to be financed by the SSF.
- Lender's Monitoring to assist the Bank to monitor implementation of the works under the EBRD funded contracts. The estimated cost of the assignment is up to US$ 350,000 to be financed by the SSF.
Company Contact Information
Mr Nurali Arabzoda, Executive Director
piurr@bk.ru
+992 372 22-2079
Projects Implementation Unit for Roads Rehabilitation 14 Ayni Street Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734012
Business opportunities
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Text of the PIP
