Sfax-Gabès Motorway

Promoteur – Intermédiaire Financier

The overall objective of the Ministry for Equipment, Housing and Town and Country Planning (MEHAT) is to equip Tunisia with the infrastructure and public amenities required for its development.

The Ministry has delegated to the company Tunisie Autoroutes the tasks of preparing and implementing motorway projects and operating and maintaining the motorways. Trunk road works are the responsibility of the General Directorate for Roads and Bridges (DGPC).

Lieu

• Tunisie

Description

Construction of a 155m motorway between Sfax and Gabès, constituting the second phase of the M'Saken-Sfax-Gabès motorway project linking Tunis to south Tunisia.

Objectifs

The project is fully in keeping with FEMIP's guidelines and objectives, which include the upgrading of priority infrastructure. The project reflects:

• on the regional level, the political commitment of the Maghreb region to integrate transport infrastructure in general and motorways in particular. This will enhance people's mobility and stimulate economic exchanges with neighbouring countries.
• on the national level, the desire to link north Tunisia to the industrial hubs of south Tunisia, Sfax and Gabès, thereby fostering economic integration. At the same time, access to the ports of these two towns will be improved and the tourist centres (Djerba and Tozeur) will be better connected to the rest of the country.

This loan will supply the promoter with the long-term resources currently lacking at local level, thus ensuring that the financing provided is suited to the nature of the investments concerned, which are written off on a long-term basis.

Secteur(s)

• Transports

Montant BEI envisagé (montant approximatif)

Up to EUR 234 million from the Bank's own resources under the ENP/MED Mandate (2007-2013).

Coût total (montant approximatif)

Around EUR 468 million.

Aspects environnementaux

In 1991, Tunisia adopted legislation comparable in many respects to European Directive 337/85 (amended in the European Union by Directive 97/11 and subsequent directives). This Tunisian law was brought up to date by Decree No. 2005-1991 of 11 July 2005 on environmental impact assessments (EIA). This decree determines the types of operation for which environmental impact assessments are required, obliging the promoter to carry out detailed EIAs in close consultation with the local communities, taking account of the nature, size and location of specific road schemes.

Apart from the inevitable disturbance during the construction phase and taking into account the proposed mitigating measures, the project should not have any permanent negative effects on the environment, except for the loss of agricultural land (mainly olive and almond trees).

Passation des marchés

The components of the project to be financed by the EIB will be put out to international tender with publication in the OJEU.

Statut

Signé - 11/12/2009