KATHMANDU: The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) has warned that the private sector may be forced to launch protests if the ongoing obstructions in the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process for hydropower companies are not resolved promptly.
Speaking at IPPAN’s 23rd Annual General Meeting, Chair Ganesh Karki expressed serious concern over the lack of urgency shown by the government and regulatory bodies in facilitating the IPO process, a key source of capital for energy projects.
“Many companies eager to move forward with hydropower development have been waiting for a long time to issue shares to the public. But due to delayed approvals, several projects have been negatively impacted,” said Karki.
He pointed to the lack of coordination between the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) and the Ministry of Energy as a major factor in the bottleneck.
“The poor coordination and bureaucratic delays are sending a discouraging message to investors and developers in the energy sector,” he said.
Karki emphasized that IPOs are not just about raising capital, but are also essential for broadening public participation in the hydropower sector and achieving Nepal’s goal of energy self-reliance.
“If the current situation persists, the private sector will be left with no choice but to resort to protest,” he said.
He also called for immediate policy and legal reforms to ensure a more investment-friendly environment.
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