DUSHANBE, July 16, 2008, Asia-Plus — A progress of implementation of the Dushanbe solid waste management project was discussed at a meeting of Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev with a group of representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led Mr. Hans Sprokkreeff, the Alternate Director for the Netherlands, here on July 15.
Shavkat Saidov, a spokesman for the Dushanbe mayor, said that during the meeting, it had been noted that a feasibility study had been completed for the project. According to him, an agreement for the second phase of the project has now been prepared. The document will be submitted for signing to the Dushanbe municipality within the next few days. The first phase of the project was completed last year.
We will recall that the project, which is the first cooperation between the EBRD, Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Dushanbe municipality in the solid waste management sector, will bring substantial environmental, health and safety benefits to Dushanbe and surrounding communities by providing an adequate and affordable municipal waste management system.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tajikistan and the ERBD on cooperation in the solid waste sector management sector was signed in Dushanbe in January 2006. The EBRD has selected Sweden’s SWECO International AB as consultant to review implementation the project.
A total cost of the Dushanbe solid waste management project is estimated at USD 10 million. Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) supports the project with grant funding, providing some US$7 million
The proposed EBRD transaction focused on financing compacting trucks, container trucks, rehabilitation of collection points, containers, tanker trucks, landfill weighbridge, entrance office, workshop, garage, landfill equipment, upgrading of the access road, landfill soil cover, gas extraction system, a leachate collection and treatment system, and monitoring equipment. In parallel with the investments, the operation assists to restructure and reorganize the institutional framework for solid waste services in Dushanbe and contributes to the formation and institutional strengthening of a newly formed solid waste management company for Dushanbe.
During a July 15 meeting, the EBRD representatives expressed readiness to participate in sponsoring other projects aimed at development of the Tajik capital city, the spokesman said.
The capital mayor proposed them to make contribution to installation of water meters, rehabilitation of roads and development of alternate energy resources for heating water, Saidov said.
