Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, has directed the concerned bodies to make preparations to implement the 'Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan-2080'.

During a meeting with chiefs and office-bearers of the ministry and its subordinate bodies at the Energy Ministry on Tuesday, Minister Basnet asked the concerned bodies to prepare for the implementation of an action plan in a practical manner.

He emphasized that a clear roadmap for implementation should be identified, as the action plan will soon be forwarded as a national responsibility upon approval by the cabinet.

The energy minister further stated that internal electricity consumption would be increased, and surplus power would be exported.

A task force, under the coordination of Joint-Secretary of the Energy Ministry, Sandeep Kumar Dev, was formed on July 11 as per a ministry-level decision. The task force submitted a report to Minister Basnet on September 12.

According to the roadmap, it is necessary to make preparations as there will be a demand for 28,468 megawatts of electricity by 2035.

Emphasis was laid on coordination among inter-governmental bodies along with legal and institutional reforms for the implementation of the action plan. The action plan has clearly outlined the quantity of power to be produced from various projects within the next 12 years and the associated costs.

A target has been set to increase the per capita power consumption to 1500 units by 2035 and to construct 6440 circuit kilometers of transmission lines, as well as to enhance the capacity of substations to 40,000 MVA.

Secretary at the Energy Ministry, Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Irrigation Secretary Gopal Sigdel, task force coordinator Dev, and Deputy Executive Director Pradeep Kymar Thike were present during the meeting.