STRUMA MOTORWAY (LOT 3-1 AND LOT 3-3)

The project concerns the financing of the construction of two motorway sections (Lot 3.1, Lot 3.3) and a dual-tube, two-lane tunnel (the Zheleznitsa Tunnel) on the Struma Motorway in Bulgaria. The complexity of the construction works required the split into lots and the separation of Lot 3.2 (from Krupnik to Kresna, including the Kresna Gorge) into a separate project. The route of Struma Motorway is part of the core road Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and, after its construction, the motorway shall contribute to achieving the objectives related to the core road TEN-T. Struma Motorway is divided to 5 lots with Lots 0, 1, 2, and 4 already completed and operational.

The project will contribute to the development of a strategic part of the core road TEN-T on the territory of Republic of Bulgaria.

It is a requirement that all sub-projects must be implemented in compliance with EU environmental legislation and the promoter has identified those sub-projects for which it considers an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required. Should any sub-project have a negative impact on an area forming part of the Natura 2000 network (falling under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC or Birds Directive 2009/147/EC), the Bank would require the promoter to act according to the provisions of the aforementioned directives as transposed into national law. These matters will be clarified during the appraisal.

The Bank will require the promoter to ensure that contracts for the implementation of the project have been/shall be tendered in accordance with the relevant applicable EU procurement legislation (Directives 2014/25/EU and related Directive 92/13/EU) as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with the publication of tender notices in the Official Journal of the EU, as and where required.