Kathmandu: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Anil Kumar Sinha, has said that the government is working to establish a strong legal and policy framework to expand the use of green energy.
He said such an arrangement is essential to achieve the national target of reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2045.
Addressing the National Conference on Green Energy and the Carbon Economy held here on Monday, Minister Sinha stated that robust policies are required to uphold the constitutional right of every citizen to a clean environment and to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
He noted that incentives provided for electric appliances and vehicles, the target of achieving an installed solar power capacity of 500 megawatts by 2035, and the recently formulated ethanol blending procedures are key examples of the government’s initiatives in this direction.
The Minister also said that facilities have been provided to convert traditional brick kilns into electric ones.
Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Prakash Kumar Shrestha, said that with nearly 60 percent of total energy consumption still dependent on imported fuel, the involvement of all sectors is necessary to achieve the national carbon emission target.
He added that despite policy clarity, implementation has remained weak, and there has been limited progress in attracting private sector investment.
The NPC Vice Chairman emphasized that the private sector should be made aware that banks currently have loanable funds worth Rs 1.1 trillion, presenting a strong opportunity to invest in green energy, particularly at a time when interest rates are low.
Executive Director of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), Nawa Raj Dhakal, said that 140 megawatts of electricity have so far been generated from renewable energy sources. To further increase this capacity, arrangements have been made for a 27-megawatt solar power plant, along with the installation of 132 charging stations and 513 charging lanes to promote the consumption of green electricity.
He added that 4,137 solar-powered pumps have been installed to reduce the use of imported fuel for irrigation purposes.
