KATHMANDU: Blue Water Intelligence (BWI) marked a major milestone on January 30, 2025, with the launch of basin-wide hydrological forecasting and early warning services under the HydroNepal Project, part of the Nepal–France Green Road Map. The event also featured a panel discussion on water and energy security in the context of climate change.

The HydroNepal Project, launched in February 2025 with support from the French Ministry of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty and funded by FASEP, is implemented in partnership with the Nepal Electricity Authority. The project aims to improve hydropower planning, disaster preparedness, and water resource management through the integration of Earth observation, artificial intelligence, and hydrological modeling.

The launch ceremony brought together representatives from Nepal’s water, energy, and research sectors. River flow forecasting and early warning systems are now operational in the Upper Karnali, Marsyangdi, Trishuli, and Dudh Koshi basins, and BWI has opened its services to the private sector across Nepal.

Speaking at the event, the French ambassador highlighted the significance of combining French hydrological expertise with Nepal’s river systems to drive economic growth and enhance disaster preparedness. BWI’s hydrologist emphasized that the milestone demonstrates the potential of international cooperation and digital innovation to strengthen Nepal’s water and energy resilience, adding that the project will expand beyond the first four basins to develop new partnerships for data-driven hydropower and river basin management.

The evening concluded with a panel discussion on water, energy, and climate resilience, where government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and researchers explored how Basin Intelligence technology can help address Nepal’s most pressing water-related challenges.