KATHMANDU – October 23, 2018 – The Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli, today officially launched the ‘National Action Plan for Electric Mobility.’ The action plan supports implementation of Nepal’s Nationally Determined Contribution, a key mechanism of the Paris Agreement, especially in terms of clean transport, energy diversity and air quality targets. In his launch speech, the Prime Minister said that the action plan was “evidence that the government is fully committed to electric mobility.” To support the promotion, development and oversight of electric mobility markets and infrastructure in Nepal, the Prime Minister encouraged that the government establish a dedicated unit for electric mobility at federal level, one of the priority actions recommended in the action plan.

The launch event took place at the Pulchowk depot of public bus transport operator Sajha Yatayat, a key partner of GGGI’s electric mobility work in Nepal. It was attended by around 250 people, including ministers and secretaries of the federal government, mayors, and a range of government officials, as well as representative of the business and international development community. In addition, the event saw the official hand-over of five electric buses to Sajha Yatayat for short-term operation before relocation to Lumbini, in south-western Nepal, with support from ADB. The event was hosted by Mr. Rabindra Adhikari, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, who said, “with the ‘National Action Plan for Electric Mobility’ in place, we can move forward with our transition to clean transport and curb our greenhouse gas emissions.”

The action plan was developed by the Ministry of Forests and Environment, in close consultation with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and with support from GGGI. The action plan assesses the current state of the transport sector in Nepal and explores various scenarios for electrification in line with targets set in the ‘Nationally Determined Contribution’. It also reviews key barriers to greater electrification of the transport sector, and lays out, in response, over 25 actions for short- and medium-term implementation. The priority actions include a) the establishment of a dedicated electric mobility unit at federal level; b) the establishment of a national program for electric mobility focused on activating markets and boosting infrastructure investment; c) and the establishment of a national fund for electric mobility.

Mr. Shakti Basnet, Minister of Forests and Environment, which is GGGI’s host ministry in Nepal, also spoke at the lunch event, noting that “GGGI and the Ministry have been working closely since 2017 to advance clean, sustainable transportation. We are proud to deliver this action plan to the government and people of Nepal.”