YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia (MCA-Armenia) SNCO announced the award of a contract to "SADE" (France) in consortium with "SHMSH-23" (Armenia) for the rehabilitation of the first package of six main canals, a $5.7 million contract under the MCA-Armenia Irrigated Agriculture Project Infrastructure Activity. The contract was signed at the MCA-Armenia Offices on December 16 2008 by MCA-Armenia CEO Ara Hovsepyan and Mr. Francis Marquiez of "SADE". The first package rehabilitation works will involve sectional concrete lining along approximately 4.2 kilometers of the Arzni-Shamiram main canal and rehabilitation of the hydro-technical structures in the sections of Artashat, Lower Hrazdan, Armavir, Talin, Arzni-Shamiram and Shirak main canals that are in a critical state and require immediate attention. The work will cover the Armenian marzes of Armavir, Aragatsotn, Ararat, Kotayk and Shirak, and will begin in January 2009. The contract also includes a pilot sub-component to test shotcrete and other advanced technologies in lining of approximately 200m of the canal. If successful, the shotcrete or other advanced technologies will be applied in the future civil works for rehabilitation of canals and hydro-technical structures, MCA-Armenia Office reported.

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