Medium Size Project (MSP) on

“Environmentally Sound Management of PCBs and POPs Pesticides in Nepal”

– MOEST/UNIDO Joint project with the GEF’s provision of 1:1 Co-finance

MSP - Project Objectives

• Environmentally sound management practices for PCBs and
• Gradual phase-out and disposal of existing old stocks of PCB-containing equipment and wastes

Background

• POPs Enabling Activities for the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention in Nepal Agreement signed between UNIDO and then MOPE - March 2003
• National Implementation Plan (NIP) Prepared – 2006
• Ratification of Stockholm Convention – Oct 2007
• MSP document prepared and submitted to GEF through UNIDO - 2009

Nepal’s situation

• Least developed country;
• NIP prepared;
• SC ratified by the Parliament
• Nepal became Party to SC in 2007
• Commitment of Co-finance (1:1) to be fulfilled and the evidence to be produced to the GEF

Project duration: 2011 – 2013

Budget:                         

GEF :                                                      US $ 8,80,000

Co-finance (In-kind contribution) :   US $ 8,80,000

UNIDO: UN Executing agency of GEF

Committees:

Stockholm Convention Implementation Steering Committee Implement (18 members) under the Chair of Secretary, MOEST and Stockholm Convention Focal Point (Joint Secretary level) & National Project Coordinator (NPC) of MSP as Member Secretary: 3 meetings have taken place ( July 2011, August 2012 & January 2013)

Project Management Technical Committee (PMTC) under the Chair of NPC and Pollution Section Chief as Member Secretary (two meetings: first one in April 2012 for discussion on PCBs Management Guidelines and second one as Policy Round Table meeting in April 2012 with PMTC members and other stakeholders for PCBs guidelines finalization)

 Activities so far:

• Planning Workshop (April 2011)
• First Steering Committee Meeting (July 2011)
• Trainers’ Training (TOT) on PCBs inventory and determination (Nov 2011)
• Policy Round Table Meeting (April 2012) for finalization of PCBs Guidelines
• Joint Visit to Potential Interim Storage Sites (May 2012) with authorities from UNIDO and MOEST and UNIDO Project Team
• Inventory preparation and collection of transformer oil samples (April 2012 – July 2012): Inventory of more than 2500 transformers prepared and nearly 2100 oil samples collected; among which 1900+ were analysed
• Final draft of Policy Document and Guidelines for PCBs Management prepared and submitted to MOSTE 
• PCBs determination using Dexsil testkits (June -July 2012): 15 power transformers and 186 distribution transformers found PCBs contaminated (at >50 ppm)
• Awareness/Training at NEA Transformer maintenance workshops for maintenance personnel (June 2012)
• Second Steering Committee Meeting (August 2012)
• Technical Vendor Seminar (August 2012) for vendors to present their technologies on PCBs treatment/decontamination
• ToR preparation to post in the web for bidders to submit their proposals for PCBs treatment /decontamination (September 2012)
• Seven oil samples sent for PCBs analysis in GC MS in an accreditated laboratory in India (Vimta lab in Hyderabad)
• Selection of an International Company (Vendor) for the Decontamination / Dechlorination of PCBs, by the committee represented by MOSTE, NEA and UNIDO in Vienna in Nov-Dec 2012.
• Third Steering Committee Meeting (January 2013)

Activities ahead:

• Endorsement of PCBs Management Guidelines (Guidelines already presented in PMTC & Policy Round Table meeting, sent to stakeholders for written comments and also presented in Steering Committee meeting)
• Signing of MSP project document for formalizing the MSP activities, part of which are already completed
• Evaluation of Technical proposals submitted by the vendors (in Vienna in Nov/Dec 2012)
• PCBs Disposal / Decontamination activity: will be carried out by the selected vendor, within one year after signing of the contract between MOSTE, UNIDO and the selected vendor.

For MSP Implementation

MOSTE Team

Secretary: Steering Committee Chair

Joint Secretary and SC Focal Point: Member Secretary of SC & Chair of PMTC

Under Secretary (Tech) and Chief, Pollution Section: Member Secretary of PMTC

Chemist, Pollution Section: Desk Officer for MSP

UNIDO Project Team

Dr. Bhupendra Devkota, National Technical Expert (May 2011- till date); Project Manager (since August 2011)

Mr. Dipak Pd Upadhyay, Project Manager (May – August 2011)

Mr. Vikram Basyal, Policy Expert (May 2011 – April 2012)

Ms. Annu Rajbhandari, Inventory Coordinator (April – October 2012)

Ms. Shanti Karanjit Ojha, Advocacy Expert (April – June 2012)