GEORGIA EAST - WEST HIGHWAY

Construction of new road and upgrading of existing road.

The project aims at upgrading and improving the most Western part of the East-West highway, from Zestaponi to Batumi-South 10 km before the Turkish Border at Sarpi, for a total length of about 185 km.

If located within the EU, the project would fall under Annex I of the EIA Directive 85/337/EEC as amended and would require a full EIA, including the necessary issues relating to the Habitats and Birds Directive. As part of the EIA a scoping and screening of the motorway component of the project has been performed incorporating amongst others, biodeversity analyisis, analyses of alternatives and intensive public meetings/consultations. At design stage the balance of the EIA will be performed on the chosen alternative, including preparation of the environmental mitigation plan as well as land acquisition and resetlement plan. During this phase a second round of public consultations will be held.

The legal documentation will oblige the promoter to ensure that any procurement procedures on the sections financed by the Bank are done in accordance with EIB Guidelines and the relevant applicable EU rules.