S4 DEVIATION ZARZIS

The project concerns the construction of a 21.2-km long 2x2 road bypass around the city of Zarzis, in the south east of Tunisia. The new bypass comprises the widening of a 6.2-km long section of the existing local road RL974 and the construction of a 15-km long dual carriageway on a new alignment. The project is an allocation under the framework loan Modernisation Routière II (Serapis no. 20150308).

The project will contribute to the optimisation of traffic flows and the orderly urban development of the city of Zarzis, the largest city in southeast Tunisia. It is part of the over-arching country strategy to increase competitiveness through the provision of essential infrastructure. The project meets the Bank's priority objectives for transport lending and is in line with the Bank's objectives.

If the project was located within the EU, it would fall under Annex I of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2011/92/EC, as amended, thus requiring a full EIA. One main EIA procedure including a public consultation has been carried out. The environmental permit was issued by the national competent authority in January 2016. The Bank shall investigate environmental and social aspects during the appraisal and verify that the promoter has followed the relevant EU environmental and social principles, standards and practices. The Bank shall also verify the acceptability of the project in terms of likely environmental impacts and proposed mitigation and compensation measures.

The Bank will require the promoter to ensure that implementation of the project will be done in accordance with the Bank's Guide to Procurement.

This operation is covered by the ELM Guarantee.