The project will continue ADB''s long-term partnership with Heilongjiang Provincial Government and take a strategic, holistic, and long-term approach to further develop and implement the Transformation Development Plan of Coal Cities in Heilongjiang (2014 -2020), establishing a non-coal economic base, i.e., green food, pharmaceutical, renewable energy, and high-tech industries. The project will also contribute to the Songhua River Basin Water Pollution Control and Management Project by river rehabilitation and wastewater treatment along tributaries to the Songhua River.

The indicative project impacts are revitalized economy of East Heilongjiang subregion with non-coal industries in the cities of Hegang, Jixi, Qitaihe, and Shuangyashan; improved East Heilongjiang smart city cluster cooperation; and improved living environment, safety, and public health in the cities of Hegang, Jixi, Qitaihe, and Shuangyashan. The indicative project outcome is improved enabling environment for non-coal economic and industrial transformation.

The project is expected to have four outputs: (i) key infrastructure and systems facilitating non-coal industrial transformation in the project cities improved; (ii) remediation and environmental cleanup of impacts from coal mining in the project cities improved; (iii) integrated basic urban infrastructure and services in the project cities improved; and (iv) capacity in project cities developed in areas of (a) economic diagnostic study and strategy, non-coal industry development planning, and smart city cluster cooperation; (b) prioritized investment program preparation; (c) project planning and management; (d) mining remediation management and environment cleanup; (e) labor force assessment and planning; and (f) infrastructure and services delivered through public-private partnerships.

CONSULTING SERVICES
The PPTA will be implemented in two phases and is estimated to cost $1,100,000 which will be financed on a grant basis for $800,000 from ADB's Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF-other sources) and $300,000 from the Urban Environmental Infrastructure Fund under the Urban Financing Partnership Facility. A total of about 93 person-months (34 international and 59 national) of consulting inputs is required. A climate risk and vulnerability assessment will be carried out simultaneously and in strong coordination with the PPTA. In accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time), a consulting firm will be engaged through quality- and cost-based selection method, with a quality-cost ratio of 90:10 using simplified technical proposal procedure; and specialized individual consultants will be engaged following individual consultant selection method. Proceeds will be disbursed in line with ADB's Technical Assistance Disbursement Handbook (2010, as amended from time to time).

Urban Environmental Infrastructure Fund US$ 0.3 million

Heilongjiang Provincial Government
People's Republic of China

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB
The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main