UN releases Least Developed Countries Report 2017

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The United Nations Nepal office released "The Least Developed Countries Report 2017: Transformational Energy Access" in Kathmandu on Thursday, which shows that the world's 47 least developed countries (LDCs) are falling far behind the rest of the developing world in terms of getting power to homes and businesses.

Asian countries on the list of LDCs for 2017 include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Nepal.

The report was jointly unveiled by the National Information Officer at the United Nations Information Center, Ram B. Shah, and Executive Director at the Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital.

It states that to achieve the global goal of universal access to energy by 2030, it requires a 350 percent increase in the annual rate of electrification.

UN press briefing on 2017 LCDs report in July. /Photo from UN News Center

"Though 62 percent of the population in LDCs does not have access to electricity, the situation is quite better in Nepal. Eighty-five percent of the population has access to electricity in the Himalayan country," Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital said.

The report states that on average, firms in the LDCs suffer 10 power outages per month, each lasting around five hours.

It was also noted that last year, Nepal suffered power outages for up to 18 hours per day.

The report indicates that electricity generation capacity per person in LCDs is only one-twelfth of that in other developing countries and one-fiftieth of that in developed countries.

The global report has further underscored the need of international donors to meet aid commitments.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency