State to join REEEP Minister holds talks with REEEP officials in Vienna Projects to be submitted before April 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala will join the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) based in Vienna, Austria. Electricity Minister A.K. Balan and Director of the Energy Management Centre Dharesan Unnithan held discussions with International Director of the REEEP Marianne Osterkorn and Deputy Director Binu Parthan in Vienna on Saturday and came to an understanding on the State joining the partnership. The REEEP works with governments, businesses, industry, financiers and civil society across the world to expand the global market for renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The partnership will help the State form its renewable energy policy and assist projects to control green house gas emissions and demand side management. The State will be able to get technical assistance from developed countries for renewable energy projects on getting full membership of the REEEP. The partnership has asked the State to submit its projects before April 2009. Financial assistance will be decided on the basis of the proposals. The Minister and Power Secretary L. Radhakrishnan also held discussions with Dimitri Piskounov, Managing Director of the Small Hydropower Division of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), on strengthening the regional centre of UNIDO working at the Energy Management Centre here. UNIDO would provide financial assistance to upgrade the Centre with capability for offering consultancy services in design and implementation of small hydro projects in South Asia. The Minister and his team of officials will return to the State by September 12 after visiting Denmark and Germany.