KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 21
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Kulman Ghising, has said that the government is prepared to immediately remove the prevailing 10 percent provision in the country's energy mix.
He made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of the Renewable Energy Confederation Nepal (RECON), an umbrella organization of private-sector stakeholders engaged in micro-hydropower, biogas, biomass, solar, and wind energy.
Minister Ghising reaffirmed his full commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient renewable energy system. He emphasized that renewable energy will be mainstreamed into the country's overall energy development strategy, noting that such a system will play a vital role in enabling Nepal to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2045.
During the meeting, the RECON delegation submitted a memorandum urging the implementation of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Act, 2080, and calling for effective private-sector representation in the Energy Regulatory Commission.
The memorandum further recommended introducing net-metering, decentralized manufacturing, and institutionalizing rooftop energy within the national energy policy. It also proposed scaling up the "AAA" model in renewable projects and creating employment opportunities for Gen-Z at the local level.
Additional recommendations included reducing investment risks through an expanded carbon market mechanism, tax exemptions, customs concessions, concessional loan guarantees, and the integration of micro-hydropower projects into the national transmission grid.
The memo also called for greater collaboration with universities and international partners, alongside the establishment of domestic industries for renewable energy technology parts, equipment, and assembly to generate employment for Gen-Z.
RECON President Kushal Gurung remarked that Minister Ghising appeared positive about advancing policies to create employment for women, youth, Gen-Z, and marginalized communities by ensuring their ownership, entrepreneurship, and active participation in production, transmission, and distribution of energy.
