Govt action plan on hydropower in offing
TRN Reporter Kathmandu, Nov. 24
Minister for Water Resources Bishnu Prasad Poudel Monday said that the ministry was planning to unveil the action plan on hydropower soon, which would help to meet the envisaged target of generating 10,000 MW by 2020. He said that the government was fully committed towards the target and was preparing effective policy to speed up the hydropower generation.
Speaking on 'Vision 2020: A Vision for Hydropower Growth' a symposium organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), he committed that the government would ensure business friendly environment to the private sector and the foreign investors. "Foreign investors are interested to invest in the hydropower sector," he said adding that the government was capable of securing the foreign investments. "We will create a transparent working policy feasible to the private sector and the foreign investors," he said.
He informed that the recent operation of the mid-Marshyangdi and the power purchased through India would give some relief to the existing severe power shortage. FNCCI president Kush Kumar Joshi urged the government to materialise the Public Private Partnership into an action, which the government introduced for the rapid economic growth.
He pointed out that the severe power shortage was hampering more than Rs. 65 billion worth of productivity. "Government should recognise the resource potential of Nepal at a time when we are totally depending on import," he said. He said that, at a time when national savings was only Rs. 2 billion Nepal needed to concentrate on attracting foreign investment to implement big projects. "For this it should create business and investment friendly environment."
Jean Marc Carpentier, an energy expert from Canada, said that building hydropower was building the nation. He said that Nepal government's ambitious vision of creating prosperous Nepal through hydropower potential was appreciable at the time when the country was at a critical crossroads.
Citing an example of his country, he said that state-owned hydropower had developed a good relationship with the private sector in Canada and other power producing countries. "We are ready to help Nepal in regard to power purchase, sharing expertise and providing assistantship".
Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, coordinator of hydropower development at FNCCI, said that Nepal had immense hydropower potential, market access and investors, which needed to be tapped effectively.
Prime Minister Puspha Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' in a message to the programme said that such symposiums were an important move to expose the resource potential and investment opportunities to the domestic and foreign investors. He said the government had given due importance to create policy and administration reforms in order to promote and develop power in the country.
Source: The Rising Nepal 25 November 2008
Minister for Water Resources Bishnu Prasad Poudel Monday said that the ministry was planning to unveil the action plan on hydropower soon, which would help to meet the envisaged target of generating 10,000 MW by 2020. He said that the government was fully committed towards the target and was preparing effective policy to speed up the hydropower generation.
Speaking on 'Vision 2020: A Vision for Hydropower Growth' a symposium organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), he committed that the government would ensure business friendly environment to the private sector and the foreign investors. "Foreign investors are interested to invest in the hydropower sector," he said adding that the government was capable of securing the foreign investments. "We will create a transparent working policy feasible to the private sector and the foreign investors," he said.
He informed that the recent operation of the mid-Marshyangdi and the power purchased through India would give some relief to the existing severe power shortage. FNCCI president Kush Kumar Joshi urged the government to materialise the Public Private Partnership into an action, which the government introduced for the rapid economic growth.
He pointed out that the severe power shortage was hampering more than Rs. 65 billion worth of productivity. "Government should recognise the resource potential of Nepal at a time when we are totally depending on import," he said. He said that, at a time when national savings was only Rs. 2 billion Nepal needed to concentrate on attracting foreign investment to implement big projects. "For this it should create business and investment friendly environment."
Jean Marc Carpentier, an energy expert from Canada, said that building hydropower was building the nation. He said that Nepal government's ambitious vision of creating prosperous Nepal through hydropower potential was appreciable at the time when the country was at a critical crossroads.
Citing an example of his country, he said that state-owned hydropower had developed a good relationship with the private sector in Canada and other power producing countries. "We are ready to help Nepal in regard to power purchase, sharing expertise and providing assistantship".
Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, coordinator of hydropower development at FNCCI, said that Nepal had immense hydropower potential, market access and investors, which needed to be tapped effectively.
Prime Minister Puspha Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' in a message to the programme said that such symposiums were an important move to expose the resource potential and investment opportunities to the domestic and foreign investors. He said the government had given due importance to create policy and administration reforms in order to promote and develop power in the country.
Source: The Rising Nepal 25 November 2008
