MCC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY (RURAL ELECTRIFICATION)

El Salvador - Human Development Project - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY (RURAL ELECTRIFICATION): The Activity aims to dramatically increase access of the Northern Zone's poor to basic public services and infrastructure.

The Rural Electrification Sub-Activity will extend electricity to at least 97 percent of the estimated 47,000 households in the Northern Zone that currently are not connected to local power distribution networks.

Service will be provided to these households through, as appropriate for the household, investments in the extension of distribution networks, in individual household connections to the network, and in the supply of off-grid solar photovoltaic systems.

MCC Funding will cover up to 85 percent of the projected investment in the electrification efforts, with contributions from the Government and the executing entities comprising the balance of at least 15 percent.

MCC Funding will support the following: (1) Feasibility, design, and environmental assessment to include site-specific EIAs, EMPs, and RAPs, as needed, for new distribution lines; (2) Construction of approximately 1,500 km of new distribution lines and the corresponding connection of approximately 21,000 households to the expanded network; (3) Connection of approximately 25,000 households to existing networks via the construction of necessary low voltage extensions; (4) Investment in upgrading distribution networks as necessary to support the anticipated additional load on the system; (5) Installation of approximately 950 solar power systems and provision of technical assistance for the creation of community associations for the management of solar power system operations and maintenance; and (6) Contracting of a financial advisor by and at the expense of FOMILENIO to advise FOMILENIO on financial aspects and implications of the procurement process associated with the Rural Electrification Sub-Activity, as needed.