Proposal to operate National Pride Project Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) using alternative source of energy; solar energy has been put forwarded.
The process to make the airport ‘Green Airport Project’ has been thoroughly agreed by Asian Development Bank (ADB), development partner and lending agency for Nepal.
The project will make GBIA world’s second airport to be fully solar power operated airport after Cochin International Airport in India.
The discussion to make GBIA green airport has been going on stated airport project official and added that they have planned to produce 10 megawatt of energy from which lights and electricity to various areas of the airport will be provided.
The discussion between Nepal electricity Authority, Tourism ministry (MoCTCA), Finance ministry, ADB and Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN) has been carried out and has estimated that the cost for installation of solar grids and its operation would cost around 10 million dolor.
The airport aims to be carbon neutral in first phase and then aim to become carbon negative airport and sell the extra energy while the airport would not have to pay a penny for the electricity.
The airport is set to come into operation by the end of 2019 and the process to make the airport a green airport is expected to be carried out soon.
Government has already stated to operate the airport in Government to Government (G2G) model and has allocated NRs. 3.34 billion for upcoming fiscal year.
The construction of 3000 meter long runway of the airport has also completed already and domestic flights operating from different part of the country has started making emergency stop at the newly constructed runway of the airport. India has also agreed to offer the required air routes for GBIA to come in operation.
The airport will be the country’s second international airport and is expected to minimize the traffic congestion of TIA. The runway of the airport is 3,000 meters long and 45 meter wide and is set to have CAT I standard Instrument Landing System (ILS).
The government has been prioritizing on the airport and has been working on its completion in order to aid in ‘Tourism year-2020’ to bring around 2 million tourist in the country.
