Kathmandu: Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, has assured a secure market for electricity and encouraged investment in the hydropower sector. Speaking at the financial closure signing ceremony of the 77.5 MW Dhunsa Khola Hydropower Project in Taplejung on Sunday evening, Minister Khadka emphasized that the market for electricity generated in Nepal is guaranteed.
“We aim to consume 13,500 MW domestically by 2035 and export 15,000 MW to neighboring countries India and Bangladesh. With the electricity market already secure, I urge investors to confidently invest in this sector,” Minister Khadka stated.
He highlighted the government’s prioritization of transmission line expansion alongside electricity production. He noted that private entities are also being facilitated to construct transmission lines, ensuring that generated electricity will not go to waste due to a lack of infrastructure.
Minister Khadka added that investment in hydropower is increasingly secure, with both market assurance and rapid progress in transmission line development.
To uplift the living standards of poor and disadvantaged citizens, the government has introduced the “People’s Hydropower Program,” which offers shares worth NPR 200,000 to 500,000 at subsidized rates without collateral. Minister Khadka remarked that poverty alleviation is essential for achieving the vision of a prosperous nation.
The minister also stressed the importance of national unity among all political parties for development. Referring to the Supreme Court’s recent order nullifying provisions of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, he expressed concern over its impact on hydropower projects and urged reconsideration of the decision.
He further called on construction companies to complete projects on time, highlighting the crucial role of hydropower projects in achieving government targets.
Former Minister and Taplejung MP, Yogesh Bhattarai, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the potential of hydropower in Taplejung to create jobs and energize the national economy. He urged the private sector to maximize the region’s resources for the country’s prosperity and noted that electricity produced in Taplejung would help address Nepal’s energy crisis.
The Dhunsa Khola Hydropower Project is being constructed with an investment led by Laxmi Sunrise Bank Limited, in collaboration with the Hydroelectricity Investment and Development Company Limited (HIDCL), Nepal Electricity Authority, Citizen Investment Trust, and Machhapuchhre Bank, among others.
According to HIDCL CEO Arjun Kumar Gautam, the project’s total cost is NPR 18.13 billion, with a target completion date set for four years. The project, which commenced after nine years of study, is expected to contribute significantly to Nepal’s energy goals.
