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 Millennium Challenge Corporation [MCC FR 24-13]
 AGENCY: Millennium Challenge Corporation.
 ACTION: Notice.
 SUMMARY: In accordance with the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended, the Millennium Challenge Corporation is publishing a summary, justification, and full text of the proposed First Amendment to Millennium Challenge Compact between the United States of America, acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Representatives of the United States Government and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal plan to conclude the Amendment in January 2025. (Authority: 22 U.S.C. 7708(i)(2)) Dated: December 20, 2024. Peter E. Jaffe, Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary.
 Summary of First Amendment to Millennium Challenge Compact With the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal The Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (“
                    *MCC*
                    ”) has approved an amendment (the “
                    *Amendment*
                    ”) to the existing $500 million, five-year Millennium Challenge Compact between the United States of America, acting through MCC, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (the “
                    *Compact*
                    ”). Background The Compact was signed September 14, 2017, and entered into force on August 30, 2023. The Compact aims to increase domestic electricity consumption through the Electricity Transmission Project by improving the availability and reliability of electricity in Nepal's electricity grid, expanding and strengthening Nepal's high voltage electricity transmission network to support new investments in generation that unlock Nepal's hydropower potential, and facilitating increased power trade between India and Nepal. The Compact also aims to maintain road quality across Nepal's strategic road network through the Road Maintenance Project. Scope of the Amendment MCC proposes to provide additional funding up to $50 million under the Compact. The proposed additional funding will be used to cover additional costs associated with the Compact's Electricity Transmission Project, thus enabling successful implementation of the project. Justification for the Amendment The Compact was signed in September 2017 but did not enter into force until August 2023. The protracted delay between signing and entry into force, as well as the global inflationary pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in an increase in costs for the Electricity Transmission Project. Further, procurement for construction of the project's electricity transmission line was not initiated until September 2023 and the bids received reflected costs that were substantially higher than the original cost estimate, resulting in a failed procurement. Despite identifying significant potential reductions of cost drivers for a re-procurement of the transmission line work, MCC anticipates that the cost of the transmission line work will continue to exceed the projected compact budget. Providing additional assistance under the Compact to support the Electricity Transmission Project will enable successful implementation of the Compact's objectives with respect to electricity reform. Specifically, the additional MCC funding is necessary for and will enable the accountable entity to sign contracts for the transmission line work once re-procurement is complete in a timely manner and maximize the remaining implementation period without further delays. The additional funding will also preserve adequate contingency across the Compact to facilitate operational adjustments that may become necessary during construction. The economic rate of return for the Electricity Transmission Project remains above 10 percent, which indicates that, even with cost escalations, this remains a highly viable and impactful project. Therefore, additional MCC funding for this Compact would constitute a high return investment. First Amendment to Millennium Challenge Compact Between the United States of America Acting Through the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Acting Through the Ministry of Finance First Amendment to Millennium Challenge Compact This First Amendment to Millennium Challenge Compact (this “
                    *Amendment*
                    ”), is made by and between the United States of America, acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a United States government corporation (“
                    *MCC*
                    ”), and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (“
                    *Nepal*
                    ”), acting through the Ministry of Finance (the “
                    *Government*
                    ”) (individually, a “
                    *Party*
                    ” and collectively, the “
                    *Parties*
                    ”). All capitalized terms used in this Amendment that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Compact (as defined below). Recitals *Whereas,*
                     the United States of America and Nepal signed the Millennium Challenge Compact between the United States of America, acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, acting through the Ministry of Finance, on September 14, 2017 (as modified, the “
                    *Compact*
                    ”); *Whereas,*
                     Section 2.1 of the Compact provides for MCC to grant to the Government, under the terms of the Compact, an amount not to exceed Four Hundred Fifty-Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$459,500,000) (“
                    *Program Funding*
                    ”) for use by the Government to implement the Program; *Whereas,*
                     Section 2.2 of the Compact further provides for MCC to grant to the Government, under the terms of the Compact and in addition to the Program Funding described in Section 2.1 of the Compact, an amount not to exceed Forty Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$40,500,000) (“
                    *Compact CDF*
                    ”) under Section 609(g) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended (the “
                    *MCA Act*
                    ”), for use by the Government to facilitate implementation of the Compact; 
                    ( print page 118) *Whereas,*
                     in accordance with Section 2.2(e) of the Compact, MCC notified the Government on June 28, 2024, that the Excess Compact CDF Amount of US$16,477,559.41 has been reallocated to Program Funding, thereby increasing the total amount of Program Funding to 475,977,559.41; *Whereas,*
                     the Program involves a project to increase electricity consumption by facilitating power trade and by improving the availability and reliability of electricity supply in Nepal's electricity grid (“the 
                    *Electricity Transmission Project*
                    ” or “
                    *ETP*
                    ”); *Whereas,*
                     the cost to complete the Electricity Transmission Project is now estimated to exceed the associated budget for the project; and *Whereas,*
                     pursuant to Section 6.2(a) of the Compact, the Parties desire to amend the Compact to increase Program Funding by 50,000,000, *Now, therefore,*
                     the Parties hereby agree as follows: Article 1 Amendments Amendment to Section 2.1 of the Compact Section 2.1 (Program Funding) of the Compact is amended and restated to read as follows: “Section 2.1 
                    *Program Funding.*
                     Following entry into force of this Compact in accordance with Section 7.3, MCC will grant to the Government, under the terms of this Compact, an amount not to exceed 525,977,559.41 (“
                    *Program Funding*
                    ”) for use by the Government to implement the Program. The allocation of Program Funding is generally described in 
                    *Annex II.*
                    ” Amendments to Exhibit A to Annex II to the Compact Exhibit A to Annex II to the Compact (Multi-Year Financial Plan Summary) is deleted in its entirety and replaced by the revised Exhibit A as set forth in Annex I to this Amendment. Article 2 General Provisions 2.1 Entry Into Force of This Amendment This Amendment shall enter into force on the date of the last signature of the Parties. Nepal represents that the Council of Ministers of the Government of Nepal has approved Nepal's signature of this Amendment. 2.2 Scope of This Amendment Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, all of the provisions of the Compact remain unchanged and in full force and effect. Done in [duplicate] in the English language. For the United States of America
For the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal[name]
[name][title]
[title]Date:
Date:Place:
Place:
 Annex I Exhibit A to Annex II Multi-Year Financial Plan Summary


[FR Doc. 2024-31066 Filed 12-31-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9211-03-P