2million dollar to set up ICE in Afghanistan: ADB

Singapore, Feb1: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today announced a grant of two million dollars to assist the establishment of an Inter-ministerial Commission for Energy (ICE) in Afghanistan.

The commission will help Afghanistan government to optimise energy resource use and management to meet increasing power demands.

With all aspects of the country's energy sectors devastated over the last decades of turmoil, development in the country is severely constrained by lack of power.

''There has been significant international assistance to Afghanistan's energy sector, but most of this has been for rebuilding of damaged infrastructure rather than improving technical, financial, legal, and commercial skills,'' Mr Robert Rinker, an ADB Senior Project Management Specialist said.

''The establishment of ICE will fill a large void to help the government understand, support, design, and monitor energy development based on commercial principles. It will have oversight of energy sector policy and infrastructure investments and coordinate support from development partners,'' he added.

ICE will bring together a wide array of government and donor interests to assure coordinated action and practical planning. It will not be responsible for project implementation but will develop sound policy in line with fiscal and policy priorities and international standards.

The grant project will support the full establishment of ICE and the formation of a commercial advisory team within the commission that will assist the government in identifying energy investments and shaping ongoing projects. It will also assist the government in paperwork and agreements to stimulate private sector investment.

The total cost of the technical assistance project is estimated at 2.3 million dollars, of which the government will contribute 0.3 million dollars to finance counterpart staff, office expenses, and other costs.

The Ministry of Finance will be executing agency for the project, which is due for completion around February 2009.

UNI