Nagaland GIS Centre, WRI India sign MoU to advance clean energy planning

Dimapur: The Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre (NGISRSC) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) India have signed an MoU to strengthen planning for reliable and clean energy in Nagaland.

An official report on Friday said that, as per the MoU signed on January 7 at NGISRSC in Kohima, the two organisations will work together to adopt the Energy Access Explorer (EAE), an open-source, interactive geospatial platform.

The platform will help the state identify high-priority areas for clean energy interventions.

EAE is the first digital public good to focus on climate-friendly energy transitions.

Sr. Project Director of NGISRSC, Mhathung Kithan, said the MoU marked the next step in the Centre’s partnership with WRI India.

“This collaborative model strengthens transparency, shared responsibility, and impact in inclusive planning for the sustainable development of Nagaland,” he said.

Bharath Jairaj, Executive Director of the Energy Programme at WRI India, said the EAE offers a powerful way to move from intent to informed action.

He added that beyond expanding energy access, EAE can guide the decarbonisation of critical public infrastructure, particularly in the health and education sectors, through the strategic deployment of decentralised renewable energy systems.

“In doing so, it supports Nagaland’s development priorities while contributing to India’s broader goals of meeting half its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070,” Jairaj added.

The EAE platform was first launched in Nagaland in July 2023 and has also been adapted for Assam, Jharkhand, and Mizoram. It can be utilised by planners, entrepreneurs, government bodies, and institutions.