During his first term, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had a slogan - “Electricity from wind.” Some saw it as visionary, others as a joke. To many, the statement seemed fanciful, unrealistic, mere talk. From social media to parliament, it became a subject of satire and trolling. But times have changed. Today, Oli himself is on a visit to Spain - a country that leads in wind energy, where nearly 25 percent of electricity supply comes from wind.

After landing in Madrid, as Oli traveled to Seville on a high-speed train, hundreds of turbines could be seen through the train window-standing tall in the middle of open fields, silently but steadily spinning. Those scenes turned Oli’s old statement into more than just words-they became living proof.

Now the question arises - if it was possible in Spain, why not in Nepal? The dream was envisioned, but why did progress fall asleep?

Spain didn’t just dream - it created a strategy and put it into action. It set a goal for energy self-reliance, took the climate crisis seriously, and placed its trust in technology. It introduced policies to attract investment and built infrastructure through public-private partnerships. That’s why today, Spain stands at the forefront of green energy production in Europe.

Nepal also has wind, a favorable geography, wind speed measurements, and feasibility studies. But there is no policy-level willpower. There is no investment-friendly environment. The dream was seen - but it fell asleep before it could wake up.

Spain’s Leap in Wind Energy

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), there are currently 22,042 wind turbines operating across 1,345 wind farms in more than 800 municipalities throughout Spain. These turbines occupy only 0.017 percent of the country’s total land area.

In Spain, wind energy has surpassed solar and nuclear sources to become the largest and most prominent form of renewable energy. In 2023, wind energy supplied more than 24 percent of Spain’s total electricity demand. With an installed capacity of over 30,000 megawatts, Spain now ranks fifth in the world and second in Europe in wind energy production.

On the Topic of ‘Trains’

Just like “electricity from wind,” the “train” was also one of Oli’s well-known dreams. In Nepal, this idea faced much criticism and ridicule. But this time, Oli himself boarded that train in Spain - a high-speed train covering the approximately 530-kilometer distance from Madrid to Seville in just 2 hours and 30 minutes. A train with low noise, high safety, and modern technology. It was a scene that reflected just how far ahead the world has actually moved compared to the dreams shown to the Nepali people.

Perhaps while riding that very train, a question echoed in Oli’s mind - “Why wasn’t the dream I envisioned fulfilled?” Dreaming is not mere talk, but forgetting those dreams is truly unfortunate. Whether it’s electricity from wind or trains - both are tied to technology, which requires planning, investment, and dedication. But in Nepal, the problem lies not only in leadership, but also in the system. Initiated plans lacked continuity, and resources and means could not be mobilized.

Prime Minister Oli’s visit to Spain is not just about attending a conference; it is also an opportunity for self-reflection. The turbines turning outside the window reminded him - it is not talk, but action that changes a country. That dream still holds the potential to be transformed into ‘action’ today.

The door to cooperation with Spain has opened in tourism, climate, trade, and infrastructure. Topics ranging from technology transfer to green energy investment must now be pursued seriously. But for that, what is needed is not leaders who just return after watching spinning turbines, but leadership that can turn strategies into action.

Source: Online Khabar