Jan 16, 2017

14 November, 2014 KATHMANDU –The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a co-financing agreement earlier today to fund the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Power Expansion Project.

14 November, 2014 KATHMANDU –The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a co-financing agreement earlier today to fund the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Power Expansion Project. ADB will administer a grant of 360 million Norwegian Kroner (Equivalent to 60 million USD, equivalent to Rs. 5 billion and 851 million ) from the Government of Norway for the implementation of the SASEC Power System Expansion Project. The main objective of the project is to increase electricity access and help overcome power shortage in Nepal. In addition, the project aims to export surplus power to neighboring India by strengthening and increasing the power transmission capacity and network in the country.

“This is by far the largest single project support by the Norwegian Government to the energy sector of Nepal. We believe that the project will leverage private sector investment and extend access to energy servicesin Nepal. This is in line with the Norwegian development policy on energy”, Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal H.E. Kjell Tormod Pettersen said during the signing of co-financing agreement with ADB. There is also a clear focus on immediate poverty reduction in the project as it supports the extension of electricity distribution line to more than 70,000 householdsin the transmission corridor”, he added.The grant from Norway will complement a $180 million loan from ADB’s concessional resources (the Asian Development Fund); a loan of $120 million from the European Investment Bank; and a $11.2 million grant from the ADB administered Strategic Climate Fund.

The project aims at increasing the mini grid based renewable energy systems in off-grid areas and improving the management capacity of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC). Under the power transmission and distribution capacity development component, approximately 45 kilometers of 400 kV transmission line, 192 kilometers of 220 kV transmission lines along Kali Gandaki Corridors and Marsyangdi – Kathmandu route;will be constructed. Likewise, grid substations will be constructed, augmented and replaced in various parts of the country. The project will strive to achieve 100% electrification by assisting connection to marginalized households in the new distribution corridors.

The Grant Agreement that agrees to provide as assistance of $60 (equivalent to Rs. 5 billion and 851 million) was signed by Mr. Madhu Kumar Marasini, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Mr. Kenichi Yokoyama, ADB’s Country Director for Nepal, on behalf of the Government of Nepal and ADB, respectively. His Excellency Mr. Kjell Tormod Pettersen, Ambassador of Norway to Nepal, was also present on the occasion.

Access to electricity is vital for Nepal’s all round development. This project, a priority initiative of SASEC, will help NEA to substantially upgrade and expandtransmission and distribution lines and substations. The project will also help AEPC to provide electricity to rural communities with mini grid renewable energy systems,” said ADB’s Country Director for Nepal Mr. Kenichi Yokoyama.

The SASEC Power System Expansion project is expected to be completed by 31 December 2021. The renewable energy portion of the SASEC Power System Expansion project will be implemented by the AEPC and the components related to power transmission and distribution network improvement activities are to be implemented by NEA.