KATHMANDU, SEP 25 – The government and Norway, Denmark, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Wednesday signed a Framework Document for Energy+ Cooperation to contribute towards achieving sustainable energy for all in Nepal.
The four donors extended their support to achieve the goal of providing universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement and doubling the share of renewable energy in the energy mix by 2030 as per the Sustainable Energy for All initiative launched by the UN Secretary-General.
Joint Secretary at the Finance Ministry Madhu Kumar Marasini, Danish Ambassador to Nepal Kirsten Geelan, Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal Kjell Tormod Pettersen, UNDP Country Director for Nepal Shoko Noda and ADB Country Director for Nepal Kenichi Yokoyama signed the deal on behalf of their respective institutions.
The Finance Ministry said in a press release that the development partners intended to use this agreement to improve coordination to assist Nepal to achieve universal access to sustainable energy.
“The assistance may be used to improve energy efficiency and develop renewable energy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and energy intensity in the energy sector, thereby supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in Nepal,” it said.
In November, Norway will announce an increase in assistance to the transmission, distribution and rural energy programme to support infrastructure and energy access activities in the energy sector, said the ministry.
In order to implement the assistance, the government and the donors will work on a joint implementation note that is similar to a programme document, which can be a basis to channel more development assistance to the energy sector in Nepal.
The government and all the development partners have already been contributing towards improving access to renewable energy through the National Rural Renewable Energy Program (NRREP), the ministry said.
Source : eKantipur
