Kathmandu. Minister of Water Supply, Energy, and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, has called for private sector participation in the transmission of electricity in Nepal.
Speaking at an event organized by the Electricity Regulatory Commission on Wednesday, Minister Khadka highlighted the significant role of the private sector in hydropower electricity production in the country. He noted that out of 3,200 megawatts of electricity generated, the government sector contributes just 700 megawatts, with the rest produced by the private sector.
Minister Khadka raised concerns about the potential consequences if there were no private sector involvement in electricity production. He pointed out that there is currently no participation from the private sector in electricity transmission, and urged for private sector involvement to help address this gap. The minister also mentioned that government sector projects are often delayed, taking much longer to complete.
Additionally, Minister Khadka stated that the government sector has not produced any new electricity in recent years, highlighting the need for increased private sector engagement to meet the growing energy demands.
Commenting on the government’s recent action plan to produce 28,500 megawatts of electricity, Minister Khadka emphasized that more than 28,500 megawatts could be generated, considering the country’s consumption requirements.