In recognition of their substantial contribution to the energy development sector and active participation in the country’s illumination campaign, the government on Sunday honoured energy entrepreneurs and promoters.

At a programme organised to mark the 24th anniversary of Energy Development Department in the Capital today, the government acknowledged the contributions of 17 employees of Nepal Electricity Authority and 58 from the private sector.

This is the first felicitation to energy developers in the country. Following the event, the feted energy entrepreneurs commented that the honour from the government had elated and excited them to contribute more for the enrichment of the sector.

National Planning Commission member Arbind Kumar Mishra, Energy Ministry Secretary Anup Kumar Upadhyay and Department’s Director-General Nabin Kumar Singh, among others jointly felicitated the energy developers.

Energy entrepreneur Gyanendra Lal Pradhan expressed happiness over the government’s decision to acknowledge their contributions. “Though the energy sector has significant contributions to propel the country towards prosperity, no state bodies in the past had counted its role. Such recognition would further inspire them in the future to design mega projects in the sector”.

Likewise, managing director of Sanima Mai Hydropower Subarna Das Shrestha noted, “It has come true that the state would one day remember the contribution given consistency is there. The country would achieve anticipated success if there is facilitating role from the state side in the energy sector”.

Similarly, managing director of Api Power Sanjeev Neupane said the entrance of private sector in energy has helped increase professional skills and capacity and urged the government to work to enable environment for entrepreneurs to grow.

The Department, established in mid-July 1993 through the Energy Act-1992, has passed through 24 years. With the Act coming into effect, the private sector was allowed to be the part of the energy sector in Nepal.

Among the felicitated are Chairperson of Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) Shailendra Guragain and NEA Spokesperson Prabal Adhikari.

The government had established the department to distribute license to the energy investors, researchers and coordinate all policy level works in the sector.

So far the department has distributed licenses to 137 hydropower projects having total capacity of 3,687 MW.