Nepal showcasing its achievement in hydropower at an int’l conference to kick off in Scotland

Kathmandu; Nepal’s achievement in development of hydropower is to be highlighted in the international conference on hydroelectricity, which is kicking off in Scotland of the United Kingdom from today.

The development, experience and expertise of Nepal in this field will be one of the main issues to be discussed in the conference named ‘Hydro 2023: New Ideas for Proven Resources’ being organized by Edinburgh International Congress Center, Scotland. Nepal is considered to have made greater achievements in the technical and intellectual fields related to hydropower promotion.

In the three-day (Oct. 16 to 18) conference, the works done by different countries in the field of hydropower will also be exhibited, informed Nepal Hydropower Association (NHA). According to the association, they will be keeping stalls under the name 'Made in Nepal' and there will be discussion and debate on written documents related to the work done, experience and cooperation of Nepal with foreign companies.

Nepal, with support of the World Bank, is participating in the conference, which is believed to take the achievements of the country in hydropower development mainly in the last decade at the international level. This is expected to help attract more foreign investment in big energy projects.

According to NHA, the Energy Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire and the Nepalese Ambassador to the UK, Dr Gyan Chandra Acharya will jointly inaugurate Nepal’s designated stall numbered 310.

“It seems that it will come as a notable benefit for the country as we can share the achievements, expertise and success achieved by Nepal in hydropower development, ”Secretary Ghimire, told Urja Khabar. He is on a visit to the UK to attend the mega event. According to him, Nepal's growing hydropower capacity, expanding internal and external markets and ongoing works on transmission Infrastructure will be discussed.

Ghimire added that the work being done by Nepal in the area of zero carbon emission and the achievements in carbon reduction will also be discussed. He said Nepal will be raising issues rigorously on prioritizing investment in hydropower production, which will not only help the country but also India and countries in the region in the set goal of carbon reduction.

NHA President Arun Rajauria said that Nepal's experience, hydropower history and recent achievements will be put forth in detail before the multinational companies participating in the conference. "It will disseminate the message that even in Nepal's energy sector, highly capable experts, technicians, academics and companies are being prepared and they can easily compete with foreign companies or firms," he said.

Rajauria added that one of the main objectives of participating in the conference is to promote the market for the technological and intellectual capital that is being developed in Nepal’s energy sector.

Pravin Karki, head of the energy section of the World Bank, said Nepal has achieved a recent leap in technological and human capital development. As the country has produced 3,000 MW of electricity in recent days, it shows that skilled manpower and human capital are also being developed in the country.

Karki added that more than half of the produced electricity has been developed by the private sector. Private sectors are progressing, not only in production but also in consulting and electricity transmission and distribution. “As the highly efficient human capital has been prepared, let's take our knowledge, experience and ability in the international market,” He said.

Dozens of stakeholders from Nepal including Energy Secretary Ghimire, high level officials of the NHA, contractors and representatives of consultant companies, among others, will be participating at the conference.

Besides, representatives from organizations such as Hydro Consult, Jade Consult, Sanima Engineering, Hydroelectricity Investment and Development Company Limited (HIDCL) and Urja Developers Pvt. Ltd., will be participating in the three-day conference. Over a dozen of working papers related to renewable energy, pump storage, and reservoir project development will be presented at the gathering.