(GIDE ) - Gide advises IFC Advisory and the Water Treatment Authority of Tunisia (ONAS) on the signing of a concession contract with SUEZ for the sanitation services in southern Tunisia.

Gide acted as legal advisor to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), itself Lead Advisor to the Water Treatment Authority of Tunisia (Office National de l'Assainissement de la Tunisie, ONAS), for the structuring, negotiation and execution between SUEZ and ONAS of the first publicprivate partnership in the water sector in Tunisia.

ONAS has delegated to SUEZ the operation of public sanitation services in the governorates of Sfax, Gabès, Médenine and Tataouine. The 10-year concession contract includes (i) rehabilitation works on existing wastewater treatment plants, (ii) additional works to improve the quality of treated water and (iii) operation and maintenance of the existing network comprising 14 wastewater treatment plants, 106 pumping stations and 1,900km of wastewater pipes.

The €200 million project will be financed by the World Bank, for the rehabilitation and extension of the infrastructure, and by the Tunisian government for the operation and maintenance of this infrastructure. The Gide team comprised partner John Crothers and associate Barthélemy Littot.

About Gide

Gide is a French business law firm with an international dimension. Founded in Paris in 1920, the firm now operates out of 11 offices worldwide. It numbers 500 lawyers drawn from 35 different nationalities, recognised as among the most respected specialists in each of the various sectors of national and international business law. For over 50 years now, Gide has a long-standing presence in Africa. Made up of 90 lawyers dedicated to the continent, Gide Africa assists a wide range of clients and offer a high level of legal assistance tailored to each sector, country and area of law.