Kathmandu – As the upcoming elections approach, major political parties have placed the energy sector as a shared priority. Concluding that energy is the foundation of economic prosperity, job creation, and industrial development, the parties have focused on increasing production, expanding domestic consumption, and boosting exports to regional markets.
The energy sector has long been unable to progress at the expected pace due to policy complexities, multi-institutional approval processes, and inadequate infrastructure. In this context, the parties have unveiled plans to end the situation in which developers must approach eight ministries and 23 departments, implement a one-door policy, create a private sector–friendly environment, and activate energy diplomacy.
Congress target: 14,000 megawatts
The Nepali Congress, under the slogan “Adequate Energy: Sustainable Development,” has set a target of reaching a total installed electricity capacity of 14,000 megawatts within the next five years. Currently, the capacity stands at around 4,000 megawatts. The party plans to expand this through international and private sector investment.
The Congress has also committed to increasing per capita electricity consumption from the current approximately 450 units to 750 units, implementing the concept of “rising consumption, declining tariffs,” and introducing a National Energy Security Policy. It has pledged to move forward with projects such as Budhi Gandaki, Dudh Koshi, and Betan Karnali, and to take serious initiatives toward implementing the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.
The CPN (UML) has prioritized hydropower, solar energy, and green hydrogen under the slogan “Clean Energy: Green Development through Domestic Consumption, Export Abroad.” The party has set a goal to double both electricity production and per capita consumption, and to establish Nepal as a clean energy export hub in South Asia.
Its program includes advancing projects such as Upper Arun, Dudh Koshi, and Budhi Gandaki; encouraging private sector participation in generation and transmission; and providing electricity at affordable rates for agriculture, industry, and irrigation.
CPN’s Long-Term Target
The CPN has announced a long-term goal of adding 10,000 megawatts within five years and producing 40,000 megawatts by 2100 BS (2043/44 AD). It also plans to increase per capita electricity consumption to 750 kilowatt-hours within five years.
The party’s vision includes systematizing energy exports, expanding trade with India and Bangladesh, and making the energy sector a key driver of job creation.
RSP’s Ambitious Plan
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has set a target of generating 30,000 megawatts within the next decade. It has pledged to amend laws related to land, forests, and the environment; establish a single-window service center; and adopt private sector–friendly policies.
The party also aims to expand solar energy, develop pump storage systems, promote energy-based industries, and increase per capita electricity consumption to 1,500 kilowatt-hours by 2035.
Shared Commitments, Implementation Challenges
Most party manifestos portray the energy sector as the foundation of economic prosperity. Increasing production, expanding exports, creating jobs, and ensuring energy security have emerged as common agendas.
However, energy experts emphasize that the success of the targets mentioned in the manifestos will depend on effective implementation. They argue that achieving these ambitious goals will be challenging without policy clarity, political stability, financial resource mobilization, and effective energy diplomacy.
Political parties claim that rapid development of the energy sector could lead to an industrial revolution, expanded employment, and economic self-reliance. The key challenge now is to translate commitments into action.
Jalasarokar