Programme launched to light villages nationwide in Nepal
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
KATHMANDU, June 12 (Xinhua): The Nepali Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) has launched the second phase of the Energy Sector Assistance Program (ESAP) to promote the use of alternative energy in the rural areas of the country, The Himalayan Times reported today.
According to the daily, the phase II program will wrap up in 2011. The program focuses on the solar energy support program, biomass support program and micro-hydro projects. The program looks after the rural energy investment and institutional strengthening of the rural energy sector.
"The program aims to improve the living condition of the rural population by facilitating people's access to energy technology," said Madhusudhan Adhikari, solar component manager of the ESAP.
It basically focuses on the better performance in terms of the productivity, versatility and environmental impact, he added.
The program has set a target to establish 150,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS) and 250,000 small SHS in all 75 districts of the country except Kathmandu and Bhaktapur city in Kathmandu Valley. It has targeted to make electricity accessible to 150,000 households through the launch of micro- hydro projects and provide improved stoves to 500,000 households.
Adhikari said the program will be handled by the public and private sector partners.
The main objective of the program is to increase access of rural population to energy, Adhikary said, adding, "Only 38 per cent of the people of the country have access to electricity till now and the deprived population may not have excess to electricity even in the next 20 years."
The program will discourage the massive use of fossil fuel and help develop environment-friendly technologies, he said.
The first phase of the ESAP started in 1999 with the assistance of the Danish government. Norway joined in the first phase in 2003 and the program lasted till 2004.
The ESAP phase II is supported by Norway, Denmark and the government of Nepal, the daily said.
According to the daily, the phase II program will wrap up in 2011. The program focuses on the solar energy support program, biomass support program and micro-hydro projects. The program looks after the rural energy investment and institutional strengthening of the rural energy sector.
"The program aims to improve the living condition of the rural population by facilitating people's access to energy technology," said Madhusudhan Adhikari, solar component manager of the ESAP.
It basically focuses on the better performance in terms of the productivity, versatility and environmental impact, he added.
The program has set a target to establish 150,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS) and 250,000 small SHS in all 75 districts of the country except Kathmandu and Bhaktapur city in Kathmandu Valley. It has targeted to make electricity accessible to 150,000 households through the launch of micro- hydro projects and provide improved stoves to 500,000 households.
Adhikari said the program will be handled by the public and private sector partners.
The main objective of the program is to increase access of rural population to energy, Adhikary said, adding, "Only 38 per cent of the people of the country have access to electricity till now and the deprived population may not have excess to electricity even in the next 20 years."
The program will discourage the massive use of fossil fuel and help develop environment-friendly technologies, he said.
The first phase of the ESAP started in 1999 with the assistance of the Danish government. Norway joined in the first phase in 2003 and the program lasted till 2004.
The ESAP phase II is supported by Norway, Denmark and the government of Nepal, the daily said.