Narrative description of the supervised Project:
The EBRD was considering a project supporting the Khujand Trolleybus Company in order to improve public transport provision in Khujand City. The EBRD would provide a loan of up to USD 14.0 million in two tranches to the Company. The Republic of Tajikistan would provide a sovereign guarantee. The City, as owner of the Company, would sign a Project Support Agreement with the Bank.
1) Tranche I (committed) – a loan up to USD 7.0 million to be co-financed by a capital grant of USD 3.0 million from an international donor. 2) Tranche II (uncommitted) – a loan up to USD 7.0 million to be co-financed by a capital grant of USD 3.0 million from an international donor.
The overall objectives of this project were:
a) Fleet renewal through introduction of new mid-size and/or large buses and reorganisation of the existing mini-buses into feeder services (operating secondary regular routes);
b) Depot rehabilitation and equipment;
c) Introduction of an integrated ticketing system covering all modes of public transport; and d) Corporate Development Programme to build operational and financial sustainability in the Company
AF-Cityplan was considering to bid for this assignment and requested Aspiro as sub-consultant to assist in bid management, project administration, consortium management, and financial management during the assignment.
Description of actual services provided by the staff within the assignment:
We assist AF-CityPlan as the prime contractor toward the EBRD with contract and project management for a feasibility study for an EBRD-financed investment, in the following scope:
- Define a critical route network to be introduced for optimal passenger flow
- Suggest main technical parameters for the buses
- Specify depot facilities to be built or rehabilitated, including the necessary equipment, providing the Bank with its main functional and technical parameters, quantities, cost estimates and procurement/PPP strategy
- Assess the current fare revenue collection system used on Khujand minibus services and propose a ticketing system that combines affordability, attractiveness of the new services, simplicity, a minimal level of fraud and that promotes user’s loyalty
- Prepare a comprehensive financial model for the Project for a period of 15 years
Client testimonial
“Aspiro supported us with their long-term experience in technical cooperation assignments. They helped us structure our bid and the team of experts to meet the Bank’s requirements and outbid other competitors. They advised us in negotiating with the local Tajik partner. Aspiro advised on contract management including resolving financing and invoicing issues during the project. This was the first project that we led and managed in the EBRD system and, no small thanks to Aspiro, we avoided several pitfalls and completed it satisfactorily. Aspiro was good value for money in getting to know how to work in the system and manage donor projects.”
Ing. Tomes Nosek, CEO and Managing Director
AF-CityPlan