Recent Projects 2000

A Product of the Urban Waste Management Anchor Team Urban Development Division, The World Bank Group http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/urban/solid_wm/swm_body.htm

For comments or suggestions, please e-mail Christianna Johnnides at cjohnnides@worldbank.org or Carl Bartone at cbartone@worldbank.org

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
World Bank and Dominican Republic to Test New Approach to Waste Water Disposal
Pilot to look at private sector involvement and new technologies

May 2, 2000

The World Bank last week approved a $5 million loan to pilot a new approach for providing wastewater disposal services to promote the environment and tourism in the Dominican Republic.

"This pilot could lead the way for significant improvements in how coastal environments are maintained in the Dominican Republic's tourism centers," said Project Manager Oscar Alvarado, a senior water and sanitation specialist. "With this project, we hope to learn two things: The best way to get private companies involved in providing wastewater services in the Dominican Republic, and how new technologies can improve the existing services and keep the environment cleaner and healthier for people."

The project will be carried out in the Puerto Plata, Sosua, and Cabarete areas to:

Apply and test innovative technology for environmentally sound disposal of treated wastewater (the use of very small pipes extended and submerged in the deep sea).

Prepare and implement the first ever model to have private companies provide water supply and sewerage services in tourism centers.

A major goal of the government is to maintain a healthy coastal environment, particularly in busy tourism centers. The tourist industry is a key economic activity in the country, requiring infrastructure and public services to maintain it and the coastal environment upon which it depends.

The government and the Bank believe that private companies will provide better water and sewerage services in Puerto Plata, Sosua, and Cabarete, three main tourist centers. The state-owned companies that now provide these services are unable to attend to environmental issues facing the tourism industry and residential areas adjacent to hotel resorts.

This learning and innovation loan is the first of two small projects requested by the government to test technical and institutional approaches for wastewater disposal and solid waste management, respectively. The $5 million, single-currency, LIBOR-based loan carries a four-year grace period, and matures 17 years.

PHILIPPINES:
US TDA offers grant for a large-scale waste management project in Manilla Bay

April 27, 2000

Source:
WWP-Report on Engineering Construct & Plant Operations in the Developing World,
9, 2, 2000

The U.S. TRADE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (TDA) recently extended a grant to the local R-II BUILDERS INC. regarding the possible construction of a large-scale waste management project in Manila Bay. As a result,U.S.-based ENERTECH INTERNATIONAL INC. was subsequently retained to complete the study.

TDA employs a total staff of about 400 and acts as an independent government agency under the umbrella of the INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTCOOPERATION AGENCY (IDCA). TDA has an exclusive mandate to promote U.S. exports for major projects, which are economic development priorities of host governments in middle income and developing countries.This mandate is achieved by funding feasibility studies, training programs, consultancies, and other planning services related to the projects.

Construction plans under consideration call for building an artificial island with an area of some 201 hectares in northern Manila Bay. The planned site would reportedly be designed to accept a minimum of 4,300 tons of garbage per day. The undertaking, dubbed the Green Island Solid Waste Project would reportedly have a sufficient design capacity to take most of Metro Manila's present municipal solid wastestreams during Phase I. In addition, it would be capable of accommodating an ever growing volume of waste over time as Phases II, III, and IV are implemented.

The first phase of the development project could reportedly be built within 15 to 18 months from the start of the needed dredging works. However, the final project is expected to encompass 4 phases of approximately 50 hectares each. Many of the common components are expected to be constructed during Phase I. These would include:

- Water treatment plants for leachate runoff;
- 4 transfer facilities on land;
- An unloading dock;
- An integrated methane collection and combustion turbine system to enable electricity generation. The cost to complete the total undertaking has been pegged at $500,000,000.

As things currently stand, the project feasibility study is tentatively scheduled for completion by the end of October 2000. These project plans will thus incorporate essential information for investors, developers, and providers of goods and services. This report could in due course be reviewed at TDA's or purchased through the NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICES (NTIS).