October 6, 2004
 Japanese Assistance for the Establishment of
Solar Home Lighting through LED Lamps
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The Embassy of Japan has decided to extend a grant of forty-three thousand, three hundred and sixty-three US Dollars (US$43,363), equivalent to approximately three million, two hundred and nineteen thousand, two hundred and sixty-nine Nepalese Rupees (NRs. 3,219,269) to Bhachok Solar Home Lighting Project Users Committee (BSHLPUC), for the implementation of the Bhachok Solar Home Lighting project through the use of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) Lamps at Bhachok VDC of Kaski District. This will be implemented under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan in Japan's fiscal year 2004.
A grant contract to this effect was signed and exchanged on October 5, 2004 between Mr. Hiroshi JINGU, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of Japan, and Mr. Man Bahadur Gurung, Chairperson of Bhachok Solar Home Lighting Project Users' Committee (BSHLPUC) of Bhachok VDC.
The grant will be specifically used for the procurement, packaging and transportation of 252 sets of 10-watt capacity solar panels including stands, cables, accessories and charge controllers.
Like many rural areas of Nepal, Bahchok VDC does not have access to electricity, and the local people have to rely on either kerosene or firewood for lighting. Mr. Kurauchi, a Senior Japanese Volunteer in cooperation with Tokushima Nepal Friendship Association of Japan and the local people initiated the Project with the objective of providing electricity in the villages through solar lighting by utilizing LED lamps. With the use of this advanced technology, the light emitted through 9 clusters of white LED lamps is sufficient to read any text at a distance of 2 meters. The proposed system consists of 6 sets of 9 clustered white LED lamps, solar panels and stands (each of 10 watt capacity), batteries to store the current, charge controllers and cable with accessories. One complete set will be installed in a total of 252 households.
The estimated cost of the Project is about Rs. 5,939,218. Out of this amount, Tokushima Nepal Friendship Association in cooperation with the Nichia Corporation, Japan has provided 13,608 LED lamps, worth a total of Rs. 1,846,729. The remaining Rs. 855,853 required for procuring 252 sets of Deep Cycle Batteries, installation and operation and maintenance training will be borne by the Users' Committee itself.
The Embassy of Japan places much importance on public well being through the active participation of local communities and their self-help efforts. In light of this fact, the Embassy has extended the support needed for introducing and promoting this compact, durable and eco-friendly LED based solar home lighting system in order to benefit the 1,300 people residing in Bhachok VDC, which in turn, will help to reduce deforestation and promote environmental preservation.
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