Donor agencies highlight on ramping up investment in energy sector

Kathmandu / Oct 29: The international donor agencies have been urged to extend support for achieving the government’s main motto of ‘Happy Nepali, Prosperous Nepal’ through sustainable development of energy.

The high officials of the Government of Nepal made this call in the Fourth International Conference on Renewable Energy Technology for Rural and Urban Development which commenced here from today.

Government officials speaking on the occasion said that the government has accorded priority to energy development for achieving the sustainable development goals.

Nepal has been producing 30 megawatts power from small and micro hydel projects and has installed 850 thousand solar systems for domestic lighting, constructed more than 400 thousand biogas plants, set up 1.4 million improved oven, and constructed 10 thousand improved water mills, with the financial and technical cooperation of the national and international development partners and donor agencies. Eighteen percent of the electricity supply in the country is met by small and micro hydroelectricity projects and solar energy. As many as 3.4 million households have benefited from the renewable energy technology.

As many as 20 countries have been participating in the event jointly organized by the Alternative Energy Promotion Center under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and the Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University.

Energy and sustainable development, energy security, climate change and carbon trading, green economic growth, renewable energy technologies, gender mainstreaming and energy, energy efficiency and conservation, energy for economic empowerment of women, power trade and sustainable energy access are the thematic areas of discussions during the conference which will see the presentations of workings papers on these topics.

The role of renewable energy is significant in view of socio-economic development and the environment conservation, he said, adding that the strategies for continuous development of Renewable Energy Technology (RET) for socio-economic development and environmental sustainability have been at the forefront of global ‘development discourse’ for past several decades.

The conference is expected to be helpful in seeking new areas for cooperation, providing a platform for the exchange of international knowledge, experiences and information related to the field of renewable energy.

Kathmandu hosted earlier conferences in 1998, 2003 and 2011. The three-day event will see the preparations of 80 papers with the participation of around 250 energy experts.

Inaugurating the conference, Minister for Education and Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel said that the government has announced 2018-2028 as the ‘energy decade’. He added that under this declaration, every house would be developed as an energy-efficient house and the importance of renewable energy would be incorporated in the school curriculum. “I urge the international donor agencies to extend support to this sector,” the Minister said.

Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada said the government has prioritized energy development for achieving the sustainable development goals.

Tribhuvan University vice-chancellor Prof Dr Tirtha Raj Khaniya stated that Tribhuvan University has emphasized on promotion of renewable energy technology through its Institute of Engineering.

Dean of the TU, Institute of Engineering and coordinator of the conference organizing committee, Prof Triratna Bajracharya said the renewable energy would be significant for the sustainable economic and social development as well as for environment protection.

He believed that the conference would promote exchange of international knowledge and experience regarding renewable energy and its technology.

Acting executive director of the AEPC, Nawaraj Dhakal said the conference is important in terms of the policy suggestions, technical knowledge and expertise and investment possibilities for energy development.

Ambassadors of Germany and Bangladesh to Nepal, Roland Schafer and Mashfee Binte Shams respectively, the Ambassador of the European Union, Veronica Cody and the World Bank country manager for Nepal, Faris Hadad-Zervos pledged continued cooperation to Nepal in the energy sector in the coming days. RSS