ADB to provide Rs. 5040 million for Energy efficiency improvement

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide an assistance totaling about Rs. 5040 million to the government of Nepal for the implementation of Energy Access and Efficiency Improvement Project.

From the total amount, loan assistance is approximately Rs. 4714 million and grant assistance is approximately Rs. 326 million.

The project consist of three main categories -- Energy Access, Clean Energy and Capacity Building with seven components; Facilitating Access to Clean Energy, Energy Access Quality Enhancement, Clean Energy Improvement, Supply-side Energy Efficiency Improvement, Energy Efficiency in Lighting; and Renewable Energy for Street Lighting and Capacity Building, the press release stated.

The major project activities include construction of Middle Marshyangdi-Damauli- Marshyangdi TL, construction of second circuit of Butwal-Kohalpur TL, construction and expansion of Chapali and Matatirtha grid sub-stations, installation of capacitor banks, construction of primary distribution sub stations and switching stations.

Similarly, rehabilitation of two small scale hydropower plants, distribution of about 1 million CFLs, installation of 1000 solar and solar wind streetlights, and providing expert services to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

The agreements related to the project were signed by Dr. Jivendra Jha, managing director of NEA and Barry Hitchcock, country director of ADB.

The project is expected to be completed by September 30, 2014 and NEA is the implementing agency. nepalnews.com