KATHMANDU, July 10: Prime Minister Balen Shah has said the energy sector is a key driver of Nepal's economic transformation, job creation, industrialization and green development.
During a meeting with office-bearers of the Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN) at Singha Durbar on Friday, the prime minister said the energy sector would also play a significant role in promoting the country's exports.
He said the government had taken seriously the concerns raised by IPPAN regarding challenges, opportunities and issues related to energy production and promotion in Nepal.
Shah assured the delegation that the government would coordinate with the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Nepal Electricity Authority and other relevant agencies to facilitate solutions to the sector's problems.
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According to the Prime Minister's Secretariat, the meeting focused on hydropower development, private sector investment in energy, the business environment and the role of the energy sector in strengthening the national economy.
IPPAN officials raised issues including facilitating power purchase agreements (PPAs), expediting stalled hydropower projects, resolving transmission line and grid access constraints, simplifying forest clearance and land acquisition procedures, easing licence renewals and expanding private sector participation in electricity trade.
The two sides also discussed investment security and measures to make Nepal's energy sector more investment-friendly.
Chief Adviser Kumar Byanjankar, Chief Personal Secretary Subash Sharma and Personal Secretary Nabin Bhandari were also present at the meeting.
The IPPAN delegation included Senior Vice President Uttam Bhlon, Vice Presidents Him Prasad Pathak, Sushan Karmacharya and Uttar Kumar Shrestha, Chief Adviser Ganesh Karki and General Secretary TN Acharya, among others.
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