Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, has called upon the international community to invest in Nepal’s renewable energy sectors such as hydropower and solar energy.

Highlighting that Nepal’s journey toward clean energy has reached a crucial turning point, Minister Ghising stated:

“With our immense hydropower potential, growing solar capacity, and expanding cross-border transmission lines and energy partnerships, we have the opportunity to sustainably energize the entire region. I invite our friendly nations and partners—invest in Nepal, invest in renewable energy, and become part of a brighter and greener future for all.”

Addressing a thematic session of the conference on “Envisioning Regional and Global Interconnections for Large-Scale Clean Energy Transition” as the chief speaker, Minister Ghising emphasized that Nepal’s hydropower serves as a strategic enabler for South Asia’s clean energy transformation. He added that Nepal’s hydropower is a key resource for ensuring a resilient and stable grid across the region.

Stating that hydropower development not only supports Nepal’s national growth but also aligns with the country’s vision to become a leading exporter of clean and green energy in South Asia, Minister Ghising noted that Nepal and India are jointly identifying and constructing high-capacity transmission infrastructure with the goal of exporting 15,000 MW of renewable energy by 2035.

He mentioned that Nepal possesses around 83,000 MW of hydropower potential and about 42,000 MW of pumped storage hydropower potential, describing these sources as clean, renewable, and highly complementary to the solar and wind energy resources of neighboring countries.

Minister Ghising explained that as regional and global grids evolve, interconnected transmission networks will allow renewable energy to flow across borders—balancing supply and demand, reducing costs, and expanding access.

“This vision perfectly aligns with the concept of One Sun, One World, One Grid, where clean energy flows seamlessly and sustainably across borders. To turn this vision into reality, regional countries must move toward an integrated electricity market,” he said.

“Such a system ensures smooth, non-discriminatory, and unrestricted flow of green energy. For this, transparent regulation, harmonized standards, and open access to transmission infrastructure are essential elements to attract private investment and ensure long-term sustainability.”

Minister Ghising further emphasized that cross-border energy cooperation lies at the heart of Nepal’s clean energy vision, adding that effective regional power integration and multi-sectoral technical and economic collaboration require not only strong Nepal–India ties but also enhanced India–Bangladesh transmission infrastructure, to lay the foundation for a fully interconnected grid among BIMSTEC nations.

He called for strengthened regional and international cooperation to address and mitigate the serious impacts of climate change on power systems and livelihoods.

“Another crucial aspect of sustainability is the resilience of our energy infrastructure to withstand the growing impacts of climate change,” said Minister Ghising. “Although Nepal’s contribution to global carbon emissions is negligible, the increasing frequency of floods and droughts has caused severe damage to our power systems and livelihoods, often requiring major reconstruction efforts. Therefore, enhancing climate-resilient infrastructure is our national priority.”