Following congress' approval of an addendum to the 2006 concession contract, Inapa made an US$11mn down payment to Italian consortium Ghella to resume work on the pipeline.
Under the addendum, the project was expanded and split into two phases, said Inapa head Mariano German. The first phase requires an investment of US$60.8mn, and aims to guarantee potable water supply to Higuey municipality until 2015.
The second phase seeks to guarantee access to potable water for Altagracia and La Romana provinces. Costs for the second stage will be determined by the final design, said German, adding that additional financing will be required.
The pipeline is expected to benefit a population of nearly 200,000, which is projected to rise to over 400,000 in the next 20 years.
