Pokhara Metropolitan City has launched its first Municipal Energy Plan (MEP), outlining a five-year strategy to expand access to energy, improve energy efficiency, and promote the use of renewable energy within the city.

Pokhara Mayor Dhanaraj Acharya, while unveiling it, shed light on the initiative.

He said that successful implementation of the plan would require coordination across all levels of government and support from development partners and the private sector.

The event was attended by officials from the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), GIZ Nepal, private sector representatives, and city stakeholders.

Developed by the city’s energy development subcommittee with technical support from the REEEP-GREEN project, the MEP was endorsed by the metropolitan city in February. The plan followed a nine-step process, including stakeholder consultations.

With a total allocated budget of Rs1.33 billion, the plan sets out four key areas of focus- increasing household-level use of clean and efficient renewable energy, promoting a shift from conventional and imported fuels to locally available renewable sources, enhancing energy efficiency in commercial and industrial sectors, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and raising public awareness through policy and education campaigns.