According to bank provided information. the supplementary financing for the Nador West Med (NWM) Port Complex Construction Project, which is currently underway, is intended to complement the original Bank-financed project approved in 2015. This operation is part of the drive to develop the transport and logistics sector in Morocco, which, in the maritime and port sector, involves the construction and operation of an industrial port platform in Nador within the framework of the Oriental Region development programme. This project consists of three components: (i) construction of port infrastructure; (ii) attendant social and support measures for women and young people; and (iii) project management. The updated total project cost is MAD 9.4 billion or EUR 893.33 million. During project implementation, geotechnical and geological contingencies generated additional costs. These additional works were covered in Addendum No. 1, which should be financed by SNWM. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis, the Societe Nador West Med (SNWM), like most public companies, is experiencing cash flow difficulties. This supplementary financing will help to bridge the gap in the original financing of the project, which was borne by Nador West Med Company, without modifying the planned activities, thus guaranteeing the proper implementation of the Nador West Med Port Complex Construction Project.

The objectives of the original project remain unchanged, namely: (A) At the sector level, the project aims to improve logistical competitiveness, port capacity and living conditions in the project impact area; (B) The project's specific objectives are to (i) help eliminate regional disparities, particularly by accelerating and strengthening the economic and social development of the Oriental Region through enhancement of its attractiveness and creation of wealth and jobs; (ii) strengthen Morocco's port services in the Western Mediterranean region and take advantage of its geostrategic position on the Strait of Gibraltar to attract a share of the global shipping business; and (iii) secure the supply of energy products to Morocco by establishing a second hub, particularly by expanding the intake and storage capacity in the project area.

WADE Mohamed El Abass
m.a.wade@afdb.org 

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.afdb.org/en/disclosure-and-access-to-information/request-for-documents. Under the AfDBÕs Disclosure and Access to Information policy, if you feel the Bank has omitted to publish information or your request for information is unreasonably denied, you can file an appeal at https://www.afdb.org/en/disclosure-and-access-to-information/appeals-process 

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at: https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/