MANILA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday said it approved a loan of 311 million U.S. dollars to modernize electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure in Nepal.
The ADB said the project will finance 290 km of power transmission lines in Nepal, promising to expand, reinforce, and rehabilitate electricity distribution infrastructure in relevant areas.
The project is also expected to help the Nepal Electricity Authority upgrade its training center, expand the smart meter rollout program, establish a data recovery center, and implement a supervisory control and data acquisition network.
The ADB will also provide an additional 30 million dollars in grants from its Asian Development Fund, which offers grants to ADB's poorest and most vulnerable developing members. ■