RURAL ELECTRIFICATION

THIS PROJECT WILL SERVE AS PHASE I OF A 3-PHASE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY TO EVERY VILLAGE OVER 100 INHABITANTS BY 1987. SOME 75000 HOUSEHOLDS (HALF THE TOTAL NUMBER) IN THE 1200 VILLAGES ARE TARGETED TO BE LINKED UP TO THE NATIONAL CENTRAL STATION POWER NETWORK BY THIS PROJECT. THE IBRD LOAN WILL FINANCE THE INSTALLATION OF APPROX 2000 KMS OF 20-KV MEDIUM TENSION LINE, 70-MVA OF DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER CAPACITY, AND RELATED COMMODITIES. THE AID LOAN WILL ASSIST IN FINANCING THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE COSTS OF APPROX 3000 KMS OF 380-22-VOLT LOW-TENSION INTRA-VILLAGE DISTRIBUTION LINES, STREET LIGHTING, AND RELATED MATERIALS (METERS, TRANSFORMERS, CONDUCTORS, ETC). LOCAL CONTRACTORS, FUNDED BY THE GOS, WILL CONSTRUCT AND INSTALL 80% OF THE ELECTRICAL FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE PROJECT; THE REMAINING 20% WILL BE INSTALLED BY SYRIA"S PUBLIC ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, THE ETABLISSEMENT PUBLIC D"ELECTRICITE (EPE). THE AID LOAN WILL FUND A US CONSULTING ENGINEERING TEAM TO ASSIST SELECT EMPLOYEES OF THE EPE WITH THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROJECT. MODERN US TECHNOLOGY IN ELECTRIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES WILL THEREBY BE TRANSFERRED TO THESE EMPLOYEES. REGIONAL DIRECTORATES WILL SUPERVISE ALL LOCAL CONSTRUCTION WORK.