Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Physical Infrastructure and Transport; and Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, has said that efforts are being made to increase domestic electricity consumption by giving high priority to demand-side improvements.

Speaking at a program organized in the capital on Tuesday to mark the 29th anniversary of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), Minister Ghising mentioned that various initiatives - such as the installation of charging stations to promote the use of electric vehicles and encouraging the use of induction stoves - are being implemented to increase electricity consumption.

He said, “At present, we are mainly consuming electricity within the country, and exporting surplus monsoon electricity to India and Bangladesh. However, our top priority is to increase domestic electricity consumption. To achieve this, we are expanding charging infrastructure and promoting the replacement of firewood and LPG gas used for cooking with electric stoves, which will help boost electricity demand.”

He further added, “We have moved ahead with an action plan to promote energy efficiency, energy transformation, and to increase internal demand for electricity.”

Minister Ghising also mentioned that the government is ready to sign Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with companies interested in investing in wind energy, and that the policy is to integrate solar energy into the national grid and promote energy storage.

Expressing gratitude to various donor agencies for their support in promoting alternative energy and facilitating Nepal’s energy transition, Minister Ghising stated that the scope of AEPC’s work will be expanded.

At the program, Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Chiranjivi Chataut, highlighted AEPC’s significant contribution to clean energy development and rural electrification.

Meanwhile, German Ambassador to Nepal, Udo Eugen Holtz, expressed Germany’s readiness to continue supporting Nepal in areas such as sustainable energy development, livelihood improvement, and low-carbon energy transition. Germany has been providing both technical and financial assistance in Nepal’s energy sector. In his address, Nawaraj Dhakal, Executive Director of AEPC, highlighted the progress made by the center and future plans and programs.