India to replicate solar pump scheme in Africa, other developing countries

India will collaborate with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to replicate its success in deploying solar energy at both utility and distributed levels through household and farm-level initiatives such as the PM Surya Ghar - Muft Bijli Yojana (SGMBY) and PM-KUSUM, in developing countries, mainly in Africa and small island nations.

- ASHA RAMACHANDRAN

“Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, we are taking this transformation to the heartland of India,” Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, who is also the ISA Assembly President, announced here at a curtain-raiser event last week for ISA's eighth General Assembly, scheduled in New Delhi from October 27-30.

Delivering his presidential address, the minister explained that the three components of the Rs 34,000-crore PM-KUSUM scheme target the installation of 10 gigawatts of small solar plants; support 14 million off-grid solar pumps; and solarise 3.5 million grid-connected agricultural pumps.

“Together, these efforts are ensuring that clean energy reaches the last mile. It is this combination of scale and inclusiveness that defines India’s energy transition,” he added.