Expressing its deep commitment to the International Solar Alliance (ISA), India on Sunday announced to fund 27 solar projects worth $1392.48 million in 15 countries through lines of Credit. This will be in addition to the projects worth $143 million that are already under implementation in 13 countries.
The biggest beneficiary of these new solar projects announced on Sunday is going to be Tanzania for the development of 150 MWp solar PV Farm at Shinyanga Region, in Kishapu district. This project is worth $385 million.
Mali will get $150 million for three projects: 50 MW Solar Power Plant in FANA, Mali, development of 2500 hectares to be irrigated through solar power and construction of 2 MWc Solar Photovoltaic plants in Mopti. Among India’s neighbours, Bangladesh will be the biggest beneficiary where two projects totalling about $ 180 million will be executed. These projects are establishment of solar based base stations in hard-to-reach areas for strengthening tele-talk network coverage and setting up of Mollahat 100 MW Solar PV power plant.
Sri lanka will get $100 million for two projects -- development of 200,000 rooftop solar units for low income families, and establishment of rooftop solar units in hospitals, schools, colleges and other government establishments. Some of the other countries where India will be funding solar projects are Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad, Congo, Ghana, Guniea, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles and Togo.
Speaking at the ISA Founding Conference, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India has provided support worth $ 27 million towards hosting the ISA secretariat, created an ISA corpus fund, offered training support for ISA member-countries at National Institute for Solar Energy (NISE). She added that Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) have announced contribution of $ 1 million each to the ISA corpus and we will do much more.
India also supported solar projects in 13 countries through lines of Credit. Out of these, projects in six countries are complete while in the rest seven they are under various stages of implementation.