KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, water Resources and Irrigation, Kul Man Ghising, has underscored the need of giving priority to solar energy in coming days.

Addressing the 25th annual general meeting of the Solar Electric Manufacturers Association Nepal here today, Minister Ghising shared that solar energy should be kept in priority as its use is on the rise in Nepal.

“Solar energy is being connected to national grid. The import of electricity can be reduced if production of solar energy is increased,” he said.

The Energy Minister opined that government has been carrying out study to produce solar energy in irrigation canals across the country. Stating that India has been producing more than 100,000 megawatt solar energy, he mentioned that production of solar energy could be increased in Nepal by using hills of mountainous area.

Minister Ghising informed that construction of transmission line was underway in order to export 15,000 megawatt electricity to India.

Similarly, Vice-Chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Dr Prakash Kumar Shrestha, said problems have surfaced in power production after streams started drying up due to impacts of climate change.

He opined that the 16th five-year plan has given priority to renewable energy.

Likewise, Secretary at the Energy Ministry, Chiranjivi Chataut shared that the government has been working with an objective of making the country fully electrified within coming two years.

Executive Director of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, Nabaraj Dhakal, lauded the role played by the Association with collaboration of AEPC to take access of power in every corner of the country.

Senior vice-president of the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Anjan Kumar Shrestha, praised the role of the Association to make solar energy production dignified and systematic.

The 25th AGM would elect a new leadership.