Nepal urges donors to invest in hydropower sector

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 22: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka has urged donor agencies to invest in the hydropower sector. Minister Khadka held discussion with the heads and representatives of donor agencies to raise investment required for generating 28,500 MW electricity by 2035.

The government has recently approved the ‘Energy Development Roadmap-2081’ with the aim of generating electricity of 28,500 MW by 2035.

Minister Khadka thanked the donor agencies for the support they have provided for the development of Nepal's energy sector and urged them to continue it in the coming days. He said that the energy development roadmap would help transform Nepal into a regional energy hub, strengthen national and cross-border infrastructure and advance economic prosperity.

He said that this road map is important for energy security, sustainability and inclusive economic growth. 

He said that the roadmap has paid special attention to the development of cross-border transmission lines along with generation and distribution. 

He said that Nepal, which has ample potential for water resources, will provide unparalleled opportunities for investment in the energy sector.

Minister Khadka expressed confidence that the Upper Arun Reservoir Project, which is being built with the assistance of the World Bank, and the Dudhkoshi Reservoir Project, which is being built with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank, will be constructed on time. He urged development partners, international diplomatic missions, international organisations and the community to implement the roadmap, which has been built for the country's economic development.

Secretary at Water and Energy Commission Secretariat Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal said that great support and cooperation from donor agencies is necessary to fulfill the goals of the energy development roadmap set by the government. 

He said that there are challenges in energy production, transmission and distribution and opined that everyone should move forward together to solve these challenges.

Chairman of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital said that the Energy Development Roadmap is an important document in the development of Nepal's energy sector and development partner organisations have an important role in implementing it. 

Senior energy expert at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Prabal Adhikari, said that USD 46.5 billion would be required to meet the target set by the energy development roadmap. 

He said that there would be no problem in meeting the electricity generation target set by the government as 11,161 MW of power purchase agreements (PPAs) have been signed and 12,968 MW of PPAs are in the process of being signed.

Director General of the Department of Electricity Development Nabin Raj Singh said that a large budget is needed to implement the energy development roadmap and everyone's cooperation is required to fulfill it. 

Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority Kul Man Ghising said that the authority has focused on the construction of reservoir-based projects to meet the target set by the energy development roadmap. 

He expressed gratitude for the support provided by donor agencies in Nepal's electricity development.

Country Director of Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Nepal Arnaud Cauchois expressed his commitment to continue supporting the development of Nepal's energy sector in the coming days to fulfill the goals of the Energy Development Roadmap set by the government. He said that such programmes will help improve the economies of South Asian countries.

Heads and representatives of donor agencies, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Norwegian Embassy, ​​and others were present in the meeting.