Energy Minister Proposes Making IPPAN a Partner Organization

Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has announced plans to advance the Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN) from a stakeholder body to a partner organization. He also proposed implementing a multiple buyer system and introducing a Research and Development (R&D) policy.

IPPAN Chairman Ganesh Karki stated that the government aims to resolve energy sector problems within a timeframe ranging from one month to one year. Minister Shrestha highlighted that the private sector contributes more to Nepal’s energy infrastructure than the state and emphasized that operating with only a single purchaser is no longer feasible.

Minister Shrestha pointed out that local-level disruptions in hydropower projects and transmission line construction primarily stem from a lack of public awareness. He stressed the need for the government to collaborate with the private sector to run awareness campaigns. “If energy infrastructure is not constructed on time, not only businesses but the entire country will face risks,” he said.

Chairman Karki expressed optimism with the current single-party government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party. He mentioned that, based on the party’s manifesto and 100-point agenda, the government has distinguished tasks to be completed within 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year, and there is an expectation to resolve all issues within the energy sector accordingly.