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 has started illuminating the central administrative offices from yesterday, officials said yesterday.
Nepal Prime Minister K P 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.