Energy Minister vows sustainable energy development with zero carbon emission

Kathmandu, Jan 28: Minister for Energy Dipak Khadka has stated that the government was advancing in a planned way to build a foundation for a resilient and low-carbon economy, pursuing sustainable and inclusive energy development.     

At the "Energy Transition for Resilient and Low Carbon Economy Summit 2025" in the Capital City today, Minister Khakda said the government was implementing the plans for risk reduction in development projects, increasing internal power consumption and energy export promotion.     

He also called upon to seriously think about risk reduction that could arise in infrastructure development. "We need to work for risk reduction by carrying out assessment," the Minister added.     

Khadka said that the assistance of the donor agencies and development partners should be effectively utilized for sustainable development.     

Discussing the provisions of the 10-year Energy Development Strategy of the government, Minister Khadka shared that the strategy paper has set targets for the to-do lists in the coming decade and added that the target of producing 28,500 megawatts of power was possible by 2035. "For this, we have revised different laws. Likewise, we have targeted to increase per capita power consumption to 1,500 units," he said.     

Minister Khadka also recalled that the private sector was brought on board in the construction and operation of the transmission line to make the energy sector further stronger.     

Furthermore, he said that the project-affected communities and households would be given shares, which he said would help in collecting investment and ensure local communities ownership of the projects.     

Also speaking at the event, Water Resources and Irrigation Secretary Sarita Dawadi said investment should be increased in the renewable energy sector to complete the electrification drive. 

She viewed that electrification should be done through the sources of alternative energy where the transmission line has not been reached.     

Likewise, the Development Director at the British Embassy in Nepal Pippa Bird laid emphasis on the mobilization of green finance for the promotion of renewable energy.     

She stressed the need for a robust distribution system and infrastructure development for cross-border power transmission and other things to increase access to domestic power supply.     

Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre Nabaraj Dhakal said that the Centre was collaborating and partnering with different development partners, the private sector and local levels for a sustainable, reliable and secured power system.     

On the occasion, Director General of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Pema Gyamtsho said that energy was also related to food security and observed that Nepal has the potential to take huge benefits in the areas of public transport, agriculture, tourism and others by maximizing the use of clean energy.     

The ICIMOD Director General suggested that priority should be given to the small hydel projects instead of the mega projects in countries like Nepal and Bhutan where the risks of natural disasters are high. (RSS)