Document o f The World Bank FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No: 52239-RO PROJECT PAPER ON A PROPOSED PROJECT RESTRUCTURING OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES PROJECT (LOAN NO. 4835-RO) January 5,2010 IN THE AMOUNT OF EURO 106.2 MILLION (US$153.1 MILLION CURRENT EQUIVALENT) TO ROMANIA Sustainable Development Department Country Unit for Central Europe and the Baltic Countries Europe and Central Asia Region This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance o f their official duties. I t s contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as o f January 5,2010) Currency Unit = New Romanian L e i (RON) Euro 1 = RON 4.21 U S $ l = RON2.92 US$ 1 = Euro 1.44 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS MOB Municipality o f Bucharest MTR Mid-term Review MoPF Ministry o f Public Finance EU European Union ISPA Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession LAPF Land Acquisition Policy Framework MOA Municipality o f Arad OP Operational Policy RAP Resettlement Action Plan ISDS Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet EIA Environmental Impact Assessment MoE Ministry o f Environment Vice President: Philippe H. L e Houerou, ECAVP Country Director: Theodore 0. Ahlers, ECCU5 (acting) Sector Director Peter Thomson, ECSSD Sector Manager Wael Zakout, ECSS6 Task Team Leader: Michael John Webster, ECSS6 ROMANIA MUNICIPAL SERVICES PROJECT CONTENTS Page Background and Reasons for Restructuring .................................................................................... 2 Proposed Changes ............................................................................................................................ 4 Project costs and financing .............................................................................................................. 6 Safeguards ............................... i........................................................................................................ 6 Benefits and Risks............................................................................................................................ 8 ANNEX A: Project Costs and Financing....................................................................................... 10 ANNEX B: Revised Results Framework....................................................................................... 11 ROMANIA MUNICIPAL SERVICES PROJECT (RESTRUCTURING) Project Data Sheet Borrower: Romania, represented by the Ministry o f Public Finance (MoPF) Responsible agency: Ministry of Environment (MoE); Municipality of Bucharest (MOB); and Municipality o f Arad (MOA) RVP approved - Revised project development obj ective/outcomes The objective o f the Project i s to'assist the Borrower to meet EU environmental directives in the water and wastewater sector, thereby improving the quality and coverage o f water and wastewater services, mainly through: (i) support o f infrastructure development in the municipalities o f Bucharest and Arad to provide better water and wastewater service and improve stormwater management; and (ii) preparation o f priority water and wastewater projects in selected counties. Does the restructured project trigger any new safeguard policies? Yes, OP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement Revised Financing Plan (US$m) Source Original Revised* Borrower 38.9 104.1 IBRD/IDA 131.7 153.1 I *Based on Exchange Rate: 1 EUR = 1.441900 USD as o f 05-Jan-2010. Current Euro allocations are detailed in Annex A. 1 1. This Project Paper seeks the approval o f the Executive Directors to introduce changes to the Romania Municipal Services Project (Loan No. 4835-RO) and any accompanying amendments to the project's legal documents. The proposed changes are required due to: (i) slowdown in the pace o f urban development o f the Baneasa area in Bucharest; (ii) increased civil works costs in Bucharest; (iii) possible need to acquire land to complete parts o f the the project which was initially not envisaged; (iv) a change in Romanian legislation on water operators; and (v) the availability o f grant financing for one o f the counties in component 3. The proposed changes include: triggering o f a new safeguard, OP 4.12 (involuntary resettlement) for all three components; ceasing loan financing for infrastructure works in the Baneasa area, and re- allocating remaining funds to other areas o f Bucharest where the impact i s expected to be higher; revising the end-of-project outcome targets to reflect the reallocation and increased civil works costs in Bucharest; aligning the Project Agreement covenant on selecting the operator in Arad with current legislation; and reducing the number o f counties in component 3 from 11 to 10 and modifying the project development objective and end-of-project outcome targets accordingly; and introducing additional indicators and clarified measures to the results framework. The changes will mitigate risks to not achieving the project's development objective, and introduce adjustments necessary to ensure compliance with the Loan and Project Agreements without significantly modifying project outcomes. Background and Reasons for Restructuring 2. The Project was approved on July 13,2006 and became effective o n M a y 31,2007. The objective o f the project i s to assist the Borrower to meet EU environmental directives in the water and wastewater sector, thereby improving the quality and coverage o f water and wastewater services. This objective i s to be met through implementation o f three components: Component 1: Urban Services in Bucharest Municipality (water, sewerage, drainage and road surfacing; Component 2: Urban Services in Arad Municipality (sewerage, drainage, road surfacing); and Component 3: Project Application for the EU (preparation o f water and wastewater projects in 11 counties, including masterplans, feasibility studies, and grant applications for EU structural funding). 3. Component 1: Urban Services in Bucharest Municipality. Infrastructure investments for component 1, implemented by the Municipality o f Bucharest (MOB),are divided into three civil works contracts in three subcomponents: Subcomponent B 1 covering the Baneasa area under development; Subcomponent B 2 covering already-built areas in Vatra Noua, Straulesti left, Straulesti right, Chitila Triaj, a social housing area in Odai, and Otopeni north and Baneasa north (in these latter two areas investment only include bulk water supply and trunk collectors); Subcomponent B 3 covering Giulesti Sarbi. 4. A mid-term review (MTR) was launched on April 13, 2009. Overall, implementation progress has been satisfactory to moderately satisfactory, and total disbursements (42%) are broadly in line with expectations. The expected closing date remains June 30, 201 1. Both the Municipality o f Arad (implementing component 2) and the Ministry o f Environment 2 (implementing component 3) s t i l l expect to complete project works and studies by or close to the closing date, and disburse all available loan hnds before the closing date. 5. However, the MTR identified substantial risks to component 1 achieving i t s end-of- project outcome targets and development objectives. It also identified instances o f non- compliance or potential non-compliance with Loan and Project Agreement covenants in the work performed under contract B1. As a consequence, on M a y 22, 2009, the Bank suspended disbursements to contract B1 until these instances could be resolved. These issues are discussed below. 6. Slowdown in Baneasa 's urban development. Under current market circumstances, the development o f the Baneasa area would not be completed for about 7 to 10 years, which would leave a significant part o f the contract B1 works unused for a 5 to 8-year period. This contradicts the Project Agreement covenant that MOBshould "agree with the developer upon a phased implementation plan for [...IProject so as to ensure that services are only provided to those the areas that have been developed". More importantly, it means that end-of-project outcome targets and the project development objectives corresponding to this contract would not be met. It would thus not be economically justified to complete the works according to their initial design and scope while project funding can be re-directed towards already-built areas o f the project, where the development impact i s likely to be higher. 7. Cost increases. Due to changes in market conditions between the time o f the feasibility studies and procurement, costs for component 1 increased from EUR 74 million to EUR 93 million. MOBwill bear these increased costs. The Ministry o f Public Finance (MoPF) has requested that disbursement percentages be adjusted to reflect this. 8. Land acquisition. In November 2008, a supervision mission identified the possible need for the Municipality o f Bucharest to acquire land to complete civil works which was not envisaged initially. This was confirmed at the MTR during the review o f contracts B1 and B2. Adequate safeguards to permit land acquisition now need to be added to the design o f the project, and therefore a Land Acquisition Policy Framework (LAPF) has been developed and agreed. As described below, the L A P F has been extended to component 2 as well as a precautionary measure. 9. The MTR also identified the need to amend two legal covenants o n components 2 and 3 respectively, as follows. 10. Component 2: Urban Services in Arad Municipality -- Change in legislation regarding operators. For component 2, the Project Agreement currently requires the Municipality o f Arad (MOA)to select a water and wastewater operator through competitive bidding. A change in the Romanian legal framework since Project approval eliminates the rationale for this covenant which was meant to ensure compliance with legislation in force at the time and to mirror EU State Aid rules. Romania now favors the creation o f regional (county- level) associations o f municipalities, who must contract with a regional operator. The EU approved this policy and joining such an association has been made a condition to access EU structural finds for water and wastewater investments. These changes require Arad to j o i n the 3 Intercommunal Development Association o f Arad County, which chose as regional operator the municipally-owned SC Compania de Apa SA Arad. 11. Due to changes in market conditions between the time o f the feasibility studies and procurement, costs for component 2 also increased, from EUR 50 to EUR 73 million. However, unlike in the case o f Bucharest, MOA and MoPF agreed to maintain current disbursement percentages. MOAwill cover 100% o f remaining Project expenditures from i t s own sources once Bank funding i s exhausted. MOA provided the Bank with a multi-year forecast that shows sufficient financing capacity to this effect. The loan agreement will be amended to reflect the above agreement and the subsidiary agreement between MoPF and MOAhas been proposed to be revised to reflect this agreement. 12. -- Component 3: Project Application for the EU Change in number ofcounfies. For component 3, 11 counties were initially included in the project scope. However the Government o f Romania was able to use funding from the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre- Accession (ISPA) for Galati, eliminating the need to use borrowed funds for this county. As a replacement, Vaslui County was added to the l i s t o f counties where the project financed the elaboration o f masterplans, but only 10 full applications for EU cohesion grants will be prepared. Proposed Changes 13. The project's development objective i s only marginally c`hanged and will read as follows: "The objective o f the Project i s to assist the Borrower to meet EU environmental directives in the water and wastewater sector, thereby improving the quality and coverage o f water and wastewater services, mainly through: (i)support o f infrastructure development in the municipalities o f Bucharest and Arad to provide better water and wastewater service and improve stormwater management; and (ii) preparation o f priority water and wastewater projects in selected counties." The only change i s in the number o f counties, from "11" to "selected" (and which are expected to be 10). 14. For component 1, Bank financing has ceased to be available for contract B1 (as per the letter o f suspension o f contract B 1 o f M a y 22,2009): works invoiced after June 30,2009 will not be eligible under the project; however, MOB financing will continue for this contract. Disbursement percentages for the component will be adjusted from 65% to 83% so that (i) remaining funds that were planned to be used for contract B 1 will be re-allocated to contracts B 2 and B3, and (ii) total share financed by MOB the will be increased to take into account the increase in the cost o f works. The resulting revised financing plan i s attached as Annex A. The two outstanding invoices for works procured prior to M a y 22, 2009 can be financed after the lifting o f the suspension o f contract B 1. 15. The proposed changes only marginally affect the Project's development objective. They do not require a change in monitoring mechanisms or outcome indicators. However they modify outcome targets for components 1 and 3. For component 1, the outcome targets will be reduced to reflect the reallocation o f funding from the Baneasa to other areas o f Bucharest, and the decreased level o f Bank financing o f civil works in Bucharest due t o cost increases. For component 3,, the grant application for County Galati will s t i l l be prepared, albeit not financed by 4 the Project. It should also be noted that in terms o f development .outcome, this component will help Romania access a total amount o f EU grant funding o f about EUR 1 billion. The revised targets are in Annex B. 16. Changes to the Results Framework: In order to make project indicators more explicit and representative, the following modifications have been agreed between the Government and the Bank and are reflected in the project restructuring: 0 adding two indicators on "Incremental water connections" (unit = number o f connections), and "Incremental sewerage connections" (unit = number o f connections); 0 change the unit for "incremental stormwater drainage improvements'' (km o f drains instead o f %); change the unit for "improved road surfacing" (km o f roads instead o f YO). 17. The values for "incremental population served" and "incremental connections" will represent the number of, respectively, people or connections for whom service infrastructure i s made available. This i s meant to allow a measuring o f the progress towards objectives during the course o f the Project, while the operator will only take over the infrastructure towards the end o f the project. Experience in Romania shows that practically all users will connect to the service if available (one reason being that sewerage service, in particular, i s billed by operators if available even if the user chooses not to connect). 18. The need to proceed with land acquisition for component 1 triggers the application o f the Bank safeguard policy o n involuntary resettlement (OP 4.12) for the project. As a precautionary measure the Government has agreed for the safeguard to be applied to all three components. A Land Acquisition Policy Framework (LAPF) has been agreed with MOB and MOA and compliance with this framework for components 1 and 2 will be made a covenant o f the Project Agreement. A general requirement o f compliance with applicable Bank policies o n land acquisition and resettlement will also be included in the Loan Agreement. 19. To take into account the change in legislation described in paragraph 10 above, the Project Agreement requirement to select an operator through competitive bidding will be removed. The Loan Agreement reference to the "selected operator" will be edited to apply to the regional operator. 20. During the MTR, MOA reaffirmed the statement made during negotiations that the project i s carried out on public lands only. The corresponding Project Agreement covenant that MOA "will ensure that [...] implementation o f [component 21 does not cause, or result in, resettlement" will not be modified. 21. The number o f counties for which EU grant applications will be prepared in component 3 will be reduced from 11 to 10. Corresponding references in the Loan Agreement will be amended. However, 11 masterplans will s t i l l have been prepared under the Project. 5 Project costs and financing 22. Bank financing for each component remains as per the original Project Appraisal Document, however, as project costs have increased, counterpart contributions have increased, decreasing the financing share o f Bank financing. In addition, within component 1, contract B 1 will no longer be eligible for Bank financing, therefore the funds have been reallocated to contracts B 2 and B 3 (see annex A). Safeguards 23. Social. OP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement i s n o w triggered for the project. Country systems were assessed during project preparation and it was determined that although Romanian legislation and practices on land acquisition i s consistent with Bank policies as far as legally- owned land i s concerned, Bank policy provides additional protection and support to people using land informally or illegally and i s intended to protect the poor and vulnerable. 24. Component I :In conformity with OP4.12, and t o minimize delay risks to the project, the first step was to look for reasonable technical solutions to minimize the need for expropriations. In particular for contract B 2 this was possible in Straulesti L e f t but not in Straulesti Right. In Straulesti Left the design has been changed from a separated rainwatedsewerage system to a unitary one that would avoid the need for land acquisition. This was considered acceptable from an environmental point o f view because discharge quantities are very small in comparison to the total going to the Bucharest wastewater treatment plant. 25. The agreed upon L A P F will require preparation o f an Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for each specific case where resettlement i s required, since no land acquisition that will be permitted will involve more than 200 affected persons. 26. There i s high public pressure for works to progress in the contract B 2 areas. Some sporadic demonstrations have taken place in Straulesti and were reported in the press. The proposed restructuring would also increase Bank funding to this economically less well-off area. 27. Land acquisition in contract B1: During project preparation, the developer o f the area (a private company Baneasa Investments SA) moved 34 private families from a neighboring area as part o f the development. Although the resettlement was not financed by the loan, the Bank i s completing a due diligence exercise to assess whether the compensation paid to each o f the 34 families i s reasonable, according to the principles and practices o f OP 4.12. 28. Component 2: N o land acquisition i s expected during this component. Further, it was re- affirmed during the MTR that implementation o f this component does not require or cause resettlement. However, the LAPF s t i l l applies to component 2, in the unlikely event that some land acquisition becomes necessary. 29. Component 3: OP 4.12 will also apply to component 3. Although the component only finances studies to prepare water and wastewater investments, and not the physical investments themselves, the Ministry o f Environment (MoE) implementing the Bank-financed project will be 6 urged to take into consideration the provisions o f OP 4.12 in the documentation being prepared. Further, since the main difference between OP 4.12 and Romanian laws and practice on land acquisition relates to informal or illegal use o f land, the Bank task team will seek to determine the extent to which these cases will be in issue for the planned investments. 30. Other safeguards. The following safeguards will be triggered under the project: (a) Projects on International Waterways; (b) Piloting the U se o f Borrower Systems to Address Environmental and Social Safeguard Issues in Bank Supported Projects; and (c) Involuntary Resettlement. Under (b), the Bank i s recommending the use o f Romanian systems to address the Bank policies on Environmental Assessment and Cultural Property. The I S D S has been updated to reflect the proposed changes and the new application o f OP 4.12. Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest M i a g e m e n t (OP 4.09) X Cultural Property (OPN 11.03) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safetv o f Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X Piloting the Use o f Borrower Systems to Address X Environmental and Social Safeguards Issues in bank- Supported Projects (OP/BP 4.00) 3 1. The investments supported are all intended to improve local services and the population's health and social welfare and will be designed to minimize adverse effects. N o significant indirect or long-term impacts are expected. The project design aims to have a positive effect o n the environment as measured by improved water quality. Local impacts from project activities would be limited to minor construction. The long-term environmental impacts anticipated are positive and linked to the overall project development objective to assist Romania to meet EU environmental directives in the water and wastewater sector, thereby improving the quality and coverage o f water and wastewater services. 32. As per the Bank's Operational Policy 4.00, the use o f the country systems for the environmental and social safeguards i s being piloted. Romania has agreed t o implement the measures identified in the safeguards diagnostic review report prepared by the Bank to sustain equivalence and acceptability o f piloted safeguard-related policy areas. The results o f the diagnostic review indicate that the operational principles o f Environmental Assessment as stated in Table A1 o f OP 4.00 and the Romanian Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system have many common features and that there are no gaps in equivalency. With respect to the acceptability, it was also found that Romania's current approach to EIA conforms to OP 4.00. As per the Bank's policy o n Environmental Assessment, the project i s categorized as an environmental category B since the investments will be related to small civil works without 7 significant impact to the environment. The project will remain an environmental category B project after restructuring. 33. The requirements o f the policy on International Waterways (OP 7.50) have been met and Romania has completed notification. 34. Economic. There i s no major modification in the economic impact o f project investments as appraised, save for the small reduction in expected outcomes in Bucharest, attributable to changed economic conditions and resulting slower pace o f urban development in the Baneasa area. 35. Other than mentioned above, the restructuring has no further impacts on the original economic, financial, technical, institutional, environmental, social, or other aspects o f the project as appraised. 36. The restructuring does not involve any exception to Bank policies. Benefits and R i s k s 37. Benefits. The project restructuring will shift Bank financing areas in Bucharest that will have a higher social and economic impact and more in need o f Bank financing. In addition, the restructuring will help mitigate the risk o f the project not achieving i t s PDO, and o f not meeting the Bank's safeguard policies. 38. Delays. The expropriation process required in Straulesti entails a risk o f delay. As the timetable for completing works under contract B 2 i s tight already, this has the potential to cause slippage in the completion date. However, the Municipality o f Bucharest has extensive practice o f land acquisition and expropriations, and has a specialized office to manage them. The size and number o f properties affected remain small, probably affecting only three owners. 39. Counterpart funding. Counterpart funding for component 1 i s provided by Bucharest Sector Municipalities o f Sectors 1 and 6. To avoid any shortage o f counterpart funds, the proposed new disbursement percentages maintain the original balance o f already-budgeted funding required from each o f these two Sector Municipalities. For component 2, increased counterpart funding i s required from MOAdue to the increased costs. MOAhas committed to finance 100% o f the remaining costs (once loan funds have been fully disbursed) as stated in the amendment to the loan agreement and in the proposed revisions to the Subsidiary Agreement between MoPF and MOA. 40. Procurement. The MTR highlighted concerns regarding the treatment o f pre-existing works in contract B1, representing 14% to 19% o f the contractual scope. To l i f t any uncertainty, MOBrequested that a full procurement and contract audit be performed by the Bank. The Bank's Operations Procurement Review Committee (OPRC) also recommended such an audit, which will include a determination o f the possible impact o f pre-existing works on the bidding process. The proposed restructuring reduces the amount at risk in case the audit ascertains that 8 Bank procurement policies have not been complied with. A forensic auditor has been contracted and i s proceeding with the forensic audit as requested by MOB. 9 ANNEX A Project Costs and Financing Revised Project Financing Project costs Project Financing Original Restructured Bank Counterpart Total Component 1 Bucharest 73.9 92.3 48.0 44.3 92.3 Component 2 Arad 50.3 73.1 47.2 25.9 73.1 Component 3 MoE 13.1 13.0 11.0 2.0 13.0 Total 137.3 178.4 106.2 72.2 178.4 Revised financial plan for Component 1 Euro thousands Original Restructured Final Contracted Bank Financing Bank Financing Bank use o f Invoiced financing % disbursed % funds Bank funds Component 1 Contract B1 23,946 11,296 6,466* 0% 0 6,466 Contract B2 30,310 10,007 6,420 83% 16,851 23,271 Contract B3 18,236 7,067 4,743 48% 5,361 10,104 3.375 2.281 48% 1.354 3.635 This amount assumes payment )r Invoice no341024 dated 30.04.2009 in the amount o f 219,949.52 RON and Invoice no.841023 dated 30.04.2009 in the amount o f 3,079,293.34 RON submitted prior to the suspension o f contract B 1 Revised Disbursement Table Percentage o f Amount o f Expendituresto be Financed Category Loan Allocated (Euro millon) Original Restructured (1) Works, goods and consultants' 48.0 65% I 65% for activities services-under Part 1 of the performed before Project, except for the B 1 - Civil June 30,2009 and works in sector 1-Baneasa 83% thereafter Contract no.3637/12.07.2007 (2) Works, Goods, and Consultants' 47.2 94% 94% Services under Part 2 o f the Project (3)_ Consultants' Services under . 11.0 84% 84% Part 3 of the Project Total 106.2 10 ANNEX B Revised Results Framework PDO Project Outcome Indicators Assist Romania t o meet EU Improved access t o water Determine the progress made in environmental directives in the supply meeting EU standards; meeting the project objective water and wastewater sector, Improved access t o sanitation thereby improving the quality meeting EU standards; and coverage o f water and Proportion o f the project area wastewater services. This protected from flooding; objective will be met through: Improved road surfacing (in areas where water, sewerage, a) the support o f infrastructure and stormwater networks will development in the be laid); and municipalities o f Bucharest Projects applications prepared and Arad t o provide better for EU funding water and wastewater service and improve stormwater management; and b) preparation o f priority water and wastewater projects in selected counties. es Intermediate Outcomes Procurement o f construction Progress o f implementation o f The status o f the works contracts and works o n schedule water, sewerage, stormwater, and contracts will be used t o for Arad and Bucharest road paving contracts monitor implementation progress and corrective actions will be taken, as needed. Procurement o f consulting Progress o f implementation o f the The status o f the consultancy contracts and consultancy consulting contracts for the contracts will be used t o assignment o n schedule for the preparation o f projects in several monitor implementation component managed by M o E counties progress and corrective actions will be taken, as needed. 11 Revised Evaluation Indicators for the Project 1 I 30,620 14,439 24,449 EU standards 0 Incremental water 1,033 3,566 2,066 .................. " ~ ~ ....... 598 1,249 1,456 3,028 I I I 1 standards 1,860 538 1,124 ~ Proportion o f the 0 Incremental 39.0 17.8 28.1 project area protected Component 2 (Arad) 62*o I 13*2 I 49.3 Improved access to 0 Incremental benefiting People 0 23,238 23,238 sanitation meeting EU population standards Incremental sewerage Connections 7,400 connections 0 Incremental sewerage 1000 m3 0 1,746 1,746 ~ ..... collected ............................. ."............. .......................... " . " ........... ... ._ " _. Proportion o f the project 0 Incremental km o f ~ ~ 81.0 49.9 81.0 area protected from stormwater drainage drains flooding ................ .......... ........................ - " ~ ~ " " ...... .... ................. " " ." .......... .......... ............ " .- Improved road surfacing 0 Improved road km o f roads 0 ~ ~ ~ 84.0 13.6 84.0 surfacing Projects applications 0 prepared for EU funding Intermediate Outcome 1 Progress o f 0 implementation o f water, sewerage, stormwater, and road paving contracts 0 100 I 30 I 100 Procurement o f construction contracts and works on schedule Progress o f MoE %of ~0 implementation o f the Procurement o f consulting consulting consulting contracts for contracts and consultancy services the preparation o f assignments on schedule completed projects in several 12