KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Dipak Khadka, has said that new legislation is being prepared to create a favorable environment for both government and private sector involvement in Nepal’s energy development.
Speaking at a signing ceremony between the government and China Railway Engineering Company for the deployment of tunnel boring machine (TBM) technology in the 285-MW Tamor Hydropower Project in Taplejung, Minister Khadka emphasized the need for joint efforts to achieve national energy goals. The project is being developed by Tamor Energy Pvt. Ltd.
“Progress is possible only when the private sector is involved in national development initiatives,” said Minister Khadka. He stated that the upcoming legal provisions will ease collaboration, streamline processes, and help fulfill Nepal’s target of generating 28,000 MW of electricity by 2035. He also highlighted how the use of advanced technologies like TBM will not only fast-track hydropower construction but also generate local employment and optimize resource utilization.
On the occasion, UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai noted that Nepal’s energy sector has seen rapid development since the 1991 political transition, calling it a cornerstone of Nepal’s economic transformation.
Chairperson of Tamor Energy Pvt. Ltd., Pushpa Jyoti Dhungana, expressed optimism that the Tamor Hydropower Project would help end power shortages across Nepal upon its completion. The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 51 billion, is expected to be completed in four years and bring lasting benefits to the people of Taplejung and the wider Koshi Province.
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