The MeHSIP-PPIF team had the opportunity to present progress made to date and engage in fruitful exchanges on the investment component during the 5th H2020 Steering Group and the Pollution Reduction Core Group meetings that took place in Barcelona on 18-19 April (2012). Specifically, the MeHSIP-PPIF:
- Reported on the H2020 Pipeline demonstrating a steady increase in the investment needs. Strengthened reporting on the projects that have secured financing and are a part of the H2020 Project List, was highlighted in the discussions.
- Presented progress on ongoing feasibility studies for 4 priority investment projects in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia.
- Briefed participants on its cooperation with the other H2020 components: knowledge management (EEA) and capacity building (CB/MEP).
1. Reporting on H2020 Project List & H2020 Pipeline
MeHSIP-PPIF presented the steady increase in the investment needs in the three target sectors of H2020 as shown in the H2020 Pipeline maintained by MeHSIP-PPIF. Since the launch of MeHSIP-PPIF in 2009 the H2020 Pipeline has grown within its estimated value by approximately 80% (i.e. from 1.6bn EUR in 2009 to 2.9bn EUR in 2012).
During the “Pollution Reduction Core Group” meeting extensive discussions took place on how to improve the reporting on the projects that are part of the H2020 Project List and that have secured financing. It was recognised that even though securing funding is an important milestone, it does not by itself ensure the successful implementation and operation of the project. Therefore, the establishment of a validation mechanism that would update the status of the 51 projects that have secured funding and are part of the H2020 Project List was seen as a useful and important tool to complement the H2020 Pipeline currently maintained by MeHSIP-PPIF.
2. Ongoing feasibility studies on 4 investment projects
MeHSIP-PPIF presented progress made on the ongoing feasibility studies for the following 4 priority investment projects:
- Al Ghadir (Lebanon): A first draft of the project feasibility study was presented in March 2012 during a technical meeting with national stakeholders that took place in Beirut. During the meeting an agreement was reached with the national counterparts on the best technical wastewater treatment process to be considered for the economic and financial analysis. In addition, further assessment of missing networks was confirmed to be a priority in order to present an integral project ensuring proper wastewater flow to the WWTP.
- Lake Bizerte (Tunisia): The project is steadily progressing. Extensive consultations were carried out by MeHSIP-PPIF in the country involving all relevant stakeholders. In addition, the importance of this project becoming a model for integrated depollution investment that can be replicated across the region was stressed. The significance and complexities of this project was also emphasized during the separate presentation delivered by the Tunisian representative.
- Lake Burullus/Kafr El Sheikh (Egypt): The Holding Company of Water and Wastewater (HCWW) hosted a workshop in March (2012) where all key stakeholders, including representatives from EIB, KfW and AFD, participated. During the workshop, the expert team presented progress on the feasibility study made to date with a particular emphasis on the extensive field missions that allowed for an optimisation of prioritised village clusters that form the project area. The Promoter (HCWW) indicated that the approach used by MeHSIP-PPIF’s expert team should serve as a model for future projects when determining the project scope.
- Al Ekaider (Jordan): MeHSIP-PPIF presented progress, highlighting the cooperation with other donors, namely USAID, and the resource optimization approach followed. Similar to other projects consultations carried out by MeHSIP-PPIF, ongoing discussions are taking place in the country to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the process given the wastewater treatment solution needed on site. The final determination of the project scope following baseline data collection and stakeholder consultation will be presented in the scoping report that will be ready in May (2012) to facilitate the assessment and determination of options. This will form the basis for the preparation of preliminary designs accompanied by cost estimates for the suggested interventions.
3. Cooperation with the other H2020 components
- As part of its knowledge management activities, MeHSIP-PPIF presented the H2020 map that is now hosted by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and shows all projects that are part of the H2020 Project List (to access this map, please visit http://www.eea.europa.eu/h2020)
- As part of MeHSIP-PPIF’s close cooperation with CB/MEP, a separate meeting took place in Barcelona to discuss the preparations ahead of a planned training event (7-8 June 2012) by CB/MEP on how to facilitate and further strengthen the consultation process for the Lake Bizerte project in Tunisia.
