Karnali province, Alternative Energy Centre to jointly fund solar minigrids

The Karnali provincial government and the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre are set to make joint investments in bringing electricity to settlements beyond the reach of the national transmission line and irrigation to dry land in Karnali Province.

Discussions on this were held between Chief Minister Mangal Bahadur Shahi, centre executive director Nawaraj Dhakal and other officials.

Chief Minister Shahi said the discussions reached an agreement under which the province will invest 10 percent and the centre 90 percent in solar minigrids. He said the provincial government has come forward to invest because local units are unable to raise sufficient funds on their own.

The plan is to expand access to electricity in remote areas through the use of solar minigrids and small hydropower, with the same systems also aimed at bringing water to land that currently lacks irrigation.