One-day regional conference was held with addressing sustainable hydropower development for all

Kathmandu; A one-day Regional Conference on Powering Sustainable Growth has been concluded on November 23, 2023, in Kathmandu, Nepal with addressing sustainable growth through sustainable Hydropower development. The main objective of the conference was to scale up climate finance for hydropower in the South Asian region.

During the Inaugural session, Shakti Bahadur Basnet Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has emphasized the government’s commitment to tapping the hydropower potential of the country and mentioned that as a minister dealing with energy, he recognizes the vital role that hydropower plays for sustainable development in Nepal.

Bsnet also stated that the government has a target to provide all citizens with access to electricity within the coming decade. He also focused on the government’s plans to generate 28,000 megawatts of electricity within the next 12 years. And, he shared that the government is doing its best to attract sustainable investments for some priority projects.

Similarly, Dilli Bahadur Singh, Chairman of Electricity Regulatory Commission, mentioned that Nepal has the potential to develop a higher quantum of electricity as opposed to the general belief that is prevalent at the moment. He said that there are plans to develop 28,000 megawatts of electricity of which 15,000 megawatts will be exported but the question that all stakeholders should be asking are where will Nepal export that electricity and how will we do it.

The welcome speech of the conference was delivered by Alain Kilajian, Deputy Executive Director of Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA). He highlights the key notes about the World Hydropower Congress that was held in Bali, Indonesia from 31 October to 2 November 2023. He further mentioned that the HSA was here to support Nepal in its hydropower development initiatives by adhering to global standards. He expressed his hope that the application of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS) will allow Nepal to harness its water resources in a way that is sustainable and responsible, and ultimately help the country fulfill its climate duty to become the water battery of South Asia.

Meanwhile, Sushil Bhatta, Chief Executive Officer of Investment Board Nepal, said that a lot has been achieved in Nepal with regards to hydropower development and both public entities and the private sector have played a pivotal role in this aspect. He also emphasized that while seeking markets stakeholders should focus equally on both domestic and international markets.

At the end of the inaugural session Arun Rajauria, President of Nepal Hydropower Association (NHA) Delivered his remarks on the theme of climate financing for hydropower today. " It is not just a financial mechanism but a catalyst for transformation. The right climate finance models can unlock the vast potential of hydropower in Nepal, which is more than a national asset;" he said, "This financing is crucial for developing climate-resilient hydropower infrastructure that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change, such as fluctuating water levels and extreme weather events."

Rajauriya focused that it should be on not only attracting investment but also on ensuring that these funds are channeled towards projects that adhere to the highest sustainability standards. has stated that for this juncture where climate-resilient infrastructure development and sustainable energy solutions are the basic requirements as a whole for sustainable development.

During the conference, Sushil Pokharel, Vice Chair of International Hydropower Association (IHA), shared about how the World Hydropower Congress held in Bali of Indonesia had given Nepal the opportunity to showcase its achievements at the global stage. He added that during international seminars and conferences Nepali representatives must narrate our success stories in such a manner that it will attract investments. He also mentioned that it was high time that an effective one-window policy for investors will go a long way in benefiting the country.

Likewise, Ganesh Karki, President of Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), stressed that the government should be more open towards public-private partnerships for hydroelectricity development in Nepal. He also mentioned that the draft of the Electricity Bill 2023 that was tabled by the energy minister in the Lower House of the Parliament needed to be amended before it is implemented.

During the inaugural session of the conference a tripartite memorandum of understanding for collaboration was signed between IPPAN, HSA and IHA. The collaboration is for pioneering sustainable growth through hydropower. A memorandum of understanding for investment was also signed by Tenzin Gonsar, Founder of Team Venture and Pokharel, Vice Chair of IHA.

The event was jointly organized by the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA); International Hydropower Association (IHA); Bizbell; Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad); Nepal Hydropower Association (NHA); USAID and Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN).