Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, has said policy-level works would be prioritized for the reform of energy sector. During a meeting with the office-bearers of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, Minister Khatiwada said that the government was moving towards policy reforms in energy sector.
Minister Shrestha said that consumption strategy should be equally pursued along with energy production. He stressed the need of realistic study of domestic and industrial demand. Energy sector should be linked with production, making it the basis for economic development, he stressed. “Energy is a raw material and it should be linked to the product,” he said.
Stating that the role of the government was to facilitate it, he said a policy would be adopted to make the private sector forward in development. He pledged to advance the energy sector from a multi-dimensional perspective by increasing the participation of private sector. Urging the industrialists and entrepreneurs to come forward with solution and not only problem, he urged them to use economy diplomacy as an important means of energy development.
Minister Shrestha said that the government was sensitive to the concerns of the private sector and was ready to collaborate for reforms in the country. He sought suggestions from the private sector along with a clear action plan ‘checklist’ for the same.
Saying a clear role and participatory model was needed between the government and the private sector for energy security, Minister Shrestha said that the weaknesses and wrong practices seen in both the public and private sectors should be corrected.
During the discussion, Nikki suggested changing policy priorities, creating investment-friendly environment and simplifying the approval process to improve Nepal’s hydropower sector. Association President Sunil KC said that the Indian investment in Nepal in the last two decades was less than the expectation and this has proved the need of reform.
Nikkei pointed out that a strategic shift is needed to prioritise broadcasting infrastructure and electricity trading over traditional models. The meeting has proposed to organise Nepal-India Energy Forum in New Delhi, where both the countries would facilitate and private sector investment. Nikki has demanded that the long-stalled power trade permit be extended.
