KATHMANDU: The Energy Development Council (EDC), the umbrella association for Nepal’s energy sector, has formed a high-level advisory panel which the council will consult with on various national level energy sector related issues.

The panel consists of Surya Nath Upadhyay, Govind Raj Pokharel, Amrit Nakarmi, TN Thakur and Joseph Hoess, as per a statement issued on Thursday.

Upadhyay is the former chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and former secretary of Water Resource. Presently he is working as the secretary general of Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha.

Pokharel is former vice-chairperson of National Planning Commission. He has also worked as an executive director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC).

Nakarmi is one of the pioneers of energy sector who has served Nepal Oil Corporation as an executive director. Currently, he is a professor and is affiliated with Centre for Energy Studies, Institute of Engineering. He is known for his strong research capabilities.

Thakur is former chairperson and managing director of Power Trade Corporation (PTC-India) and has contributed to linking up the power sectors of Nepal and India.

Hoess is the director of Dragon Capital Clean Development Ltd, a part of the $1.4 billion Dragon Capital group that invests in renewable energy projects in Asia. Prior to this, Hoess was the CEO of ABN Amro Bank in Thailand.