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Winrock International

Project

Capacity Building Activities to Enhance Electricity Use

Funder: The Millennium Challenge Corporation

Project Timeline: August 12, 2024 - December 12, 2027

Country: Nepal

Program Area: Clean Energy & Circular Economy

Contacts: Binod Shrestha, Binod.Shrestha@winrock.org; Jennifer Holthaus, JHolthaus@winrock.org and Aidan Lapierre, aidan.lapierre@winrock.org

The Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Government of Nepal established the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal to implement MCC’s Nepal Compact signed on Sept. 14, 2017. The Electricity Transmission Project is a component of the Nepal Compact aimed at increasing domestic electricity consumption by improving the availability and reliability of electricity on Nepal’s electricity grid and improving cross-border trade of electricity. The ETP is a 400kV double circuit transmission line spanning approximately 312 km and including the construction of approximately 856 transmission towers and three new substations (New Butwal, New Damauli, and Ratmate), along with improvements to two existing substations (New Hetauda and Lapsiphedi). The overall objective of the ETP is to increase electricity consumption by improving the availability and reliability of electricity supply in Nepal’s electricity grid and facilitating power trade. The objective of the MCA Partnership program is to extend benefits to communities in the project area. By promoting the productive use of electricity, the MCA Partnership program will enhance the quality of life and provide alternative livelihood sources for communities in and around the ETP-affected area.

The overall goals of the Capacity Building Activities to Enhance Electricity Use project include assisting ETP-affected local government entities in creating Municipal Energy Plans, and implementing capacity development activities focused on productive use of energy for individuals and entrepreneurs from ETP-affected areas through skills enhancement and business development training. Following these trainings, ETP-affected communities will have better opportunities to improve their business potential and gain employment, especially women, youth, socially excluded and marginalized people.