KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has stated that the energy sector is an important foundation for Nepal’s economic transformation, employment generation, industrialization, and green development.

During a discussion held today at Singha Durbar with officials from the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), Prime Minister Shah stated that the energy sector will also play a significant role in promoting Nepal’s export trade.

He clarified that the Government of Nepal has taken the issues raised by IPPAN regarding the problems, opportunities, and challenges encountered in the field of energy production and promotion in Nepal seriously.

Prime Minister Shah also assured the IPPAN officials that he would move forward to facilitate and solve the issues by coordinating with the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Nepal Electricity Authority, and relevant stakeholder bodies.

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, issues and dialogues took place during the discussion regarding the energy sector, hydropower development, private sector investment and environment in energy, industry-business promotion, and the development of the country’s economy through it.

On that occasion, discussions were also held on behalf of IPPAN regarding power purchase agreements (PPA facilitation), advancing stalled projects, solving transmission line and grid access problems, simplifying processes related to forests, environment, and land acquisition, facilitating license renewal, and the participation of the private sector in electricity trade.

Additionally, necessary discussions were held with Prime Minister Shah regarding investment security and making the energy sector more investment-friendly.

During the discussion, Prime Minister Shah’s Chief Advisor Kumar Benjankar, Chief Personal Secretary Subash Sharma, and Personal Secretary Nabin Bhandari were also present.

Similarly, IPPAN Senior Vice President Uttam Bhlon, Vice Presidents Him Prasad Pathak, Susan Karmacharya, and Uttar Kumar Shrestha, Chief Advisor Ganesh Karki, and General Secretary TN Acharya, among others, participated in the discussion. (RSS)