KATHMANDU, Nov 23: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, has said the government has been taking planned and meaningful initiatives for the overall development of the country's energy sector.
There is equal support and cooperation of the private sector in the government's efforts for the proper use of natural resources and sustainable development, he added.
Addressing the program 'Hydropower for Sustainable Development' here today, Minister Basnet opined that there would be equally significant contribution of the energy sector to sustainable development and emphasis should be laid on this to materialize the plan of zero carbon emission determined by Nepal.
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He presented the fact that the hydropower sector is equally important for economic prosperity, mentioning that the government was active with a target of producing an additional 28,000 Megawatt electricity by 2035.
Sharing that 98 percent households have access to electricity in the country by now, the Energy Minister clarified that attention has been paid in policy and structural-level reforms to guarantee the market and create an investment-friendly environment by producing power as per the total capacity of the country and expanding transmission and distribution lines.
The Energy Minister further said that the government was positive on the issue of signing power purchase agreements raised by the private sector and a conclusion would be drawn as the government has been continuously holding discussion for the use of land in forest areas and reestablishment of projects damaged by landslides and floods.
Likewise, Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board, Sushil Bhatta, mentioned that the Board has been continuously taking initiatives for the development of hydropower projects and an investment summit is going to be organized soon.
Similarly, the chairperson of the Independent Power Producers' Association Nepal (IPPAN), Ganesh Karki, demanded the government start signing PPAs immediately as the government has set a target of producing 28,000 megawatt of power in the next 12 years.
He laid emphasis on the need for some revision to the Electricity Bill, which is under consideration in parliament, as some provisions are not private sector-friendly.
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