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The government has set a target of increasing Nepal's annual per capita electricity consumption to 1,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) by 2030, with a strong focus on expanding domestic industrial demand.

Speaking at the Power Nepal Conclave 2026 organized by Nepal Republic Media on Wednesday, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said Nepal's current per capita electricity consumption of around 400 to 450 kWh is far too low and cannot support the country's long-term economic ambitions.

He noted that annual per capita electricity consumption stands at around 1,500 kWh in India and 2,500 kWh in Thailand, stressing that Nepal should prioritize productive domestic use of electricity rather than relying primarily on exports.

According to Shrestha, household consumption alone will not be enough to achieve the 2030 target. The government plans to expand electricity demand by connecting large and heavy industries, data centers, commercial establishments and major tourist hotels to the national grid.

He said reliable and high-quality electricity supply remains the biggest prerequisite for meeting the target.

The minister acknowledged that consumers and industries in parts of western Nepal continue to face unreliable electricity supply, adding that improving the distribution system and strengthening grid reliability will be essential to increasing electricity consumption.

Shrestha said boosting domestic electricity use remains the government's top priority, while cross-border electricity trade will continue to be expanded in parallel.

He added that Nepal plans to strengthen electricity exports to India and Bangladesh, with a long-term goal of accessing new markets in countries such as Myanmar and Thailand.