New Delhi, 28 October – Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, has called on the international community to invest in renewable energy such as hydropower and solar in Nepal.
Highlighting that Nepal’s clean energy journey has reached a critical juncture, Minister Ghising said, “With the immense potential of hydropower, increasing solar energy capacity, and expanding international transmission lines and energy connections, we have the potential to sustainably power this region. I invite our friendly nations and partners to invest in Nepal, invest in renewable energy, and be part of a bright and green future for all.”
Delivering the keynote address on Tuesday at the thematic session of the Assembly on Envisioning Regional and Global Interconnections for Large-Scale Clean Energy Transition on the topic Sustainable Development of Vast Energy Potential and Roadmap for Trilateral Electricity Trade (Nepal–India–Bangladesh), Minister Ghising said that Nepal’s hydropower is a strategic enabler of clean energy transition in South Asia. He noted that hydropower is an important resource for a resilient and stable grid in the region.
Emphasizing that hydropower production is not only vital for the country’s development but also central to Nepal’s vision of becoming a major exporter of clean and green energy in South Asia, Ghising said that Nepal and India are jointly identifying and constructing high-capacity transmission line infrastructure with a target of exporting 15,000 MW of renewable energy by 2035.
He pointed out that Nepal, endowed with nearly 83,000 MW of hydropower potential and about 42,000 MW of pumped-storage potential, possesses clean and renewable resources that complement the solar and wind energy of its neighboring countries.
According to the minister, as grids develop regionally and globally, interconnected transmission networks will enable the flow of renewable energy between different regions, balancing electricity demand and supply, reducing costs, and expanding access.
“This vision is fully consistent with the One Sun, One World, One Grid concept, where clean energy flows smoothly and sustainably across borders. To turn this vision into reality, regional countries must move towards an integrated electricity market,” he said.
“Ensuring a smooth, non-discriminatory, and unrestricted flow of green energy, transparent regulation, harmonisation of standards, and expanded open access to transmission infrastructure will be key elements to attract private investment and ensure long-term sustainability.”
Noting that cross-border energy cooperation is at the heart of Nepal’s clean energy vision, Ghising stressed the need to strengthen transmission infrastructure not only between Nepal and India but also between India and Bangladesh, to lay the foundation for effective regional integration of electricity and a fully interconnected grid among the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries.
He also called for greater regional and international cooperation to address and mitigate the serious damage climate change is causing to power systems and livelihoods.
Minister Ghising added, “Another important aspect of sustainability is the resilience of our energy infrastructure to cope with the increasing impacts of climate change. Although Nepal’s contribution to carbon emissions is negligible, frequent and severe flood and drought events are causing serious damage to our power systems and livelihoods, often requiring major reconstruction. Therefore, strengthening climate-resilient infrastructure is our national priority, and we will continue to work to address these climate-related challenges.”
