PM Shah Calls Energy Sector Foundation of Country’s Transformation

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has stated that the energy sector is a vital foundation for Nepal’s economic transformation, job creation, industrialization, and green development.

In a discussion held today at Singha Durbar with officials of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), Prime Minister Shah emphasized that the energy sector will also play a significant role in promoting Nepal’s export trade.

He clarified that the government has taken seriously the issues raised by IPPAN regarding problems, opportunities, and challenges in energy production and promotion in Nepal.

The Prime Minister assured IPPAN officials that the government will move forward with necessary facilitation and solutions by coordinating with the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Nepal Electricity Authority, and other concerned stakeholders.

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the discussion covered topics such as the energy sector, hydropower development, private sector investment in energy, environment, promotion of industries and businesses, and through these, the development of the national economy.

On behalf of IPPAN, issues such as power purchase agreements, facilitation of PPAs, resumption of stalled projects, resolving problems related to transmission lines and grid access, simplification of processes concerning forests, environment, and land acquisition, facilitation in license renewal, and private sector participation in electricity trade were also discussed.

Additionally, there was necessary dialogue with Prime Minister Shah on investment security and making the energy sector more investment-friendly.

Present at the discussion were the Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Kumar Byanjankar, Principal Private Secretary Subash Sharma, and Private Secretary Navin Bhandari.

From IPPAN, Senior Vice President Uttam Blon, Vice Presidents Him Prasad Pathak, Sushan Karmacharya, and Uttar Kumar Shrestha, Chief Advisor Ganesh Karki, General Secretary T.N. Acharya, among others, participated. (RSS)