Urban Minister, EU Ambassador inaugurate BEEN project

KATHMANDU: Building Energy Efficiency in Nepal (BEEN) project has begun. The project aims to support the building sector in achieving low-carbon and resource efficiency in Nepal’s building sector by integrating energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in the design and construction of the buildings as well as retrofitting old buildings. Minister for Urban Development, Metmani Chaudhary, and Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, Nona Deprez, jointly inaugurated the project amidst a programme in Kathmandu today, BEEN stated in a press statement. The project is supported by the EU under Switch-Asia Programme and will run for four years in 60 municipalities covering four bio climate zones across Bagmati, Lumbini and Gandaki provinces. The Project cost is 2.71 million Euro. The project supports the realisation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) 12- Responsible Consumption and Project, SDG 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 7-Affordbale and Clean Energy, SDG 13- Climate Action, SDG 5-Gender Equality as well as some of the important Nationally Determined Commitments (NDCs). The project has four outputs related to capacity building, policy environment, financial instruments and market system and it intends to build capacities of micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) engaged in the building construction to adopt/transfer their services and products offerings for energy-efficient building design and construction. On the occasion, Minister for Urban Development Chaudhary, expressed his hope that the project would play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and minimising air pollution. He called for the implementation of the project in line with the government policy. He stated that Nepal was attempting to move ahead as a developing nation. However, he added, Nepal's sole efforts were not sufficient for the same. Cooperation from the international and private sector is required towards that end, according to him. National Planning Commission member Ram Kumar Phuyal said the government wished to implement the energy efficiency programme in cooperation with the private and community sectors and with experts.  "The government is committed to achieving the SDGs." Lalitpur Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Manjali Shakya Bajracharya said the project was vital for energy efficiency.  She was of the view of implementing the project through its fusion with Nepali indigenous technology. Similarly, the EU ambassador said," Building sector in Nepal is the largest energy consuming sector, hence decarbonising this sector will be a key for Nepal to achieve its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2045. EU through Building Energy Efficiency in Nepal (BEEN) project will contribute to achieving this target by making Nepal’s building sector greener by integrating energy efficiencies and renewable energy measures." READ ALSO:

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