Kathmandu: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal has urged the private sector to invest in reservoir-based hydel projects. At the concluding ceremony of Himalaya Hydro Expo-2022 on Monday, Minister Bhusal said that the private sector should be involved in large-scale reservoir projects rather than run of river (ROR)-based hydropower production.

"The private sector has not invested in reservoir projects. There will be no power purchase agreement for power produced based on ROR. So the private sector should pay attention to increasing investment in reservoir projects," she said.

The energy minister remarked that there was no alternative to constructing large-scale reservoir projects, saying the private sector could not provide even half of the said capacities of ROR projects during summer season.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stopped signing PPAs of ROR-based hydropower projects for the last three years, and the government has put the construction of large-scale reservoir projects in priority in order to make electricity supply smooth during the summer season.

Minister Bhusal mentioned that the government has put Dudhkoshi, Budhi Gandaki, Nalgadh and West Seti reservoir projects in priority.