KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, on Monday said the government is committed to promoting private sector investment in Nepal’s hydropower and power transmission sectors.
Responding to questions during the ongoing budget appropriation discussions in the House of Representatives, Minister Khadka highlighted the government’s ambitious target to generate 28,500 megawatts of electricity over the next 10 years, a goal he said would not be possible without significant private sector involvement.
He further informed lawmakers that a formal letter has been sent to the Ministry of Finance to revise the “take-or-pay” power purchase provision based on the Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA) recommendations.
Minister Khadka noted that Nepal’s electricity exports could help reduce the country’s trade deficit, with the budget for the energy sector focusing on building necessary infrastructure to export power to India, Bangladesh, and China.
He added that groundwork has begun for the joint development of the 400 kV Lamki–Bareilly and Inaruwa cross-border transmission lines.
He also assured that outstanding dues from industries would be recovered through due legal procedures and urged stakeholders not to misinterpret the government’s intentions.
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