World Bank to Assist State on Renewable Energy Roadmap

The World Bank, which has offered non-lending technical assistance under climate change action plan, will assist the State Government to prepare a renewable energy roadmap.

A technical team of the World Bank will assist the state energy department to prepare a renewable energy roadmap. The roadmap planned till 2022 will outline the roles of the energy department, state owned bulk power purchaser Gridco and Green Energy Development Corporation Ltd (GEDCOL). The three main functions considered for GEDCOL are executing agency, executive role and advocacy role.

The World Bank will also help to prepare policy and actions for GEDCOL to promote captive generation and developing solar park type infrastructure as an immediate win strategy. The Bank team agreed to work in close coordination with International Finance Corporation (IFC) advisory which is active in developing a solar policy for the State with GEDCOL and the Energy Department.

In addition, the World Bank will help develop a roadmap for energy conservation cell within the Energy Department. The team would assist in preparation of a detailed climate change action plan for the energy sector with detailed activities and budget.

A World Bank mission led by team leader Muthukumara Mani visited the State in the first week of June. The team held discussions with key officials in the departments of Finance, Energy, Forest and Environment, Rural Development, Agriculture, Urban Development, Water Resources, Odisha Disaster Management Agency, Odisha State Pollution Control Board and Odisha Watershed Mission. They also met Commissioners and other key officials of municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri.

The key tasks of the mission was to review the progress report prepared by the climate change cell of ongoing activities undertaken by the State Government that directly correspond to the activities outlined in the Climate Change Action Plan conceived in 2010.

The mission’s task is to develop a technical assistance framework including,  institutional assessments and capacity development plans for Climate Change Action Plan Cell, Green Energy Corporation and Energy Conservation Cell and State Pollution Control Board.

Green Cell

■ Roadmap planned till 2022 will outline the roles of different departments

■ World Bank will also help prepare policy and actions for GEDCOL

■ The Bank team agreed to work in close coordination with IFC

■ WB will also develop a roadmap for energy conservation cell

Source The New Indian Fincial Express