China Eximbank provides RMB 310 million government concessional loan for Zinder City Potable Water Supply Project (Linked to Record ID#83, #31049)

Project narrative

In November 2011, the Chinese Government and the Government of Niger signed a cooperation agreement to improve the drinking water supply in the city of Zinder. Then, on June 19, 2013, China Eximbank and the Government of Niger signed a RMB 310 million government concessional loan (GCL) agreement for the Zinder City Potable Water Supply Project. This loan carried the following borrowing terms: a 20 year maturity, a 5 year grace period, a 1% interest rate, and a 0.25% commitment fee. The purpose of this project was to increase potable water access for the residents of Zinder and its surroundings as well as the neighboring city of Mirriah. It involved the construction of water production facilities in Ganamaram (approximately 64 km north of Zinder), the construction of a 61 km water transport pipe, and the installation of 25 public standpipes and 2,000 public access water points. It also involved a capacity-building component. The project sought to double water production capacity — from 10,000 m3 to 21,500 m3. China Geo-Engineering Corporation was the contractor responsible for implementation. On March 31, 2013, President Mahamadou Issoufou presided over the official launch of the project in Iyaka in the municipality of Oualelewa. The project was completed on March 5, 2015. A completion ceremony then took place on January 27, 2016. The water supply facilities were put into use on March 8, 2015. This project built upon an earlier project known as the Zinder Water Supply Project, which was funded by China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) in 2002 (captured via Record ID#83).