India Press Releases - 2004

09 June 2004

USAID awards Rs. 1.8 Crore in Small Grants for Regional Energy Cooperation

New Delhi – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded over Rs. 1.8 crore ($400,000) in small grants to energy research and outreach organizations from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Together, the grants nurture a regional energy market, capable of delivering clean, reliable and affordable energy to rural families.

South Asia has abundant energy resources. But, more than half its households do not have access to commercial energy. USAID believes that increasing energy demands can be met through regional energy cooperation and trade.

USAID’s small grants program supports eighteen noteworthy energy cooperation initiatives in South Asia. Areas of activity include alternative energy systems (hydropower and biomass), distribution loss reduction in rural electricity networks, electricity pricing, information-technology based energy management, small wind systems, water-energy conservation and standards for the micro-hydro sector. Critical resources and information gathered as a result of these efforts – such as energy efficiency standards, labeling initiatives and experiences from successful rural electrification programs – will be made available to institutions and professionals across the region, in the form of best practices, lessons learned and success stories.

In addition, the program supports four training institutions in South Asia, involved with helping energy sector students and professionals to analyze policy and support actions that will sustain regional energy cooperation and trade. In India, USAID has partnered with the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI). Partner institutions in other South Asian countries include the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association (SLEMA) and the School of Environmental Management and Sustainable Development (SchEMS), Nepal.

USAID’s small grants program is implemented by Winrock International, Winrock International India and the Institute of International Education, as part of its South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Cooperation and Development (SARI/Energy). Established in 2000, SARI/Energy works with a wide variety of partners to put in place the building blocks for more robust regional energy cooperation and trade – laws, regulations, policies and technical standards.

For more information on regional energy cooperation and the small grants program, please visit www.sari-energy.org