Making further inroads into Nepal, China has set up a solar power generating system which is now illuminating the famous Singha Durbar – the government’s main administrative building complex which also houses the Prime Minister’s Office.
China had in January donated over 32,000 solar power generating systems to Nepal to enhance its domestic capacity and to provide electricity to communities, who had been without power since the devastating 2015 earthquake.
Under the China-aided Solar Photovoltaic Project, solar panels have been installed on the roof of 21 buildings of the Singha Durbar which included the Prime Minister’s Office, the ministry of finance and the ministry of energy, among others.
The project, which started in November 2016, was completed in 14-month time.
One megawatt electricity generated through solar panels have started illuminating the central administrative offices from yesterday, officials said today.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli and Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Yu Hong on Tuesday jointly inaugurated the solar power generating system installed at the central secretariat of the Nepali government.
Oli stressed that the solar technology was important and crucial for the mountain country like Nepal for the modernisation of agriculture and the operation of small and large scale industries.
“It is necessary for Nepal to end dependence on traditional electricity sources for energy needs. Though we are rich in water resources, sole dependence on hydropower is costly. Thus, we are focusing on renewable energy,” the prime minister said.
“Solar energy is important for the mountainous country like Nepal in terms of efficiency and cost. I am thankful to China for the construction of this solar photovoltaic project in a short period of time and hopeful that this project can work as a model project for other areas,” Oli was quoted as saying by the China’s state-run news agency Xinhua.
The power generated by the around Rs 600 million project would be linked to the national grid, according to officials.
Oli said that once such programmes were expanded to other places, it could help boost development in the country.
Solar energy is very useful for the geographically diverse country like Nepal, the Prime Minister said adding that such projects of mutual benefit would take Nepal-China bilateral relations to a new height.
Source: PTI
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