A delegation of four members, led by Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Ambassador of Nepal to the United Arab Emirates and Permanent Representative of Nepal to IRENA, actively participated in the 16th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The delegation included Navaraj Dhakal, Executive Director of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), as well as the Counselor, Head of Chancery, and the First Secretary of the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi.

The 16th Assembly of IRENA began on 11 January 2026, with the Nepali delegation actively engaging in presenting Nepal's agenda and priorities. During his address to the Assembly on behalf of Nepal, Navaraj Dhakal, Executive Director of AEPC and a member of the Nepali delegation, outlined Nepal's energy development goals. These include expanding the country's electricity generation capacity to 28,500 megawatts by 2035, increasing per capita energy consumption to 1,500 kilowatt-hours per year, and exporting 15,000 megawatts of electricity by the same period.

He stressed the importance of securing international financial resources to achieve Nepal's ambitious renewable energy goals. He also pointed out that the total estimated cost to meet Nepal's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets by 2035 is USD 73.74 billion, with around 85 percent expected to come from international climate finance and cooperation.

During the Pre-Assembly meeting on January 10, Dhakal represented Nepal in discussions such as "Call to Action on Skilling for Energy Transition" and "Mobilizing Finance for Clean Cooking." He emphasized the necessity of education, skill development, and building a skilled workforce to reach energy transition objectives. Nepal has integrated energy-related subjects into formal, informal, and technical education systems, covering various energy topics from school to university levels. Technical training in solar, biogas, hydropower, and electrical technologies is provided through the CTEVT system.

In addition, Dhakal presented Nepal's clean cooking initiatives and called on IRENA and development partners to support in education, quality assurance, private sector enabling environment, and offering low-interest loans to consumers. He also met with IRENA Deputy Director-General Ms. Gauri Singh to expedite the implementation of approved projects in Nepal.

Themed "Powering Humanity: Renewable Energy for Shared Prosperity," the Assembly drew over 1,500 representatives from 171 countries. The opening ceremony featured virtual addresses by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Dominican Republic Energy Minister Joel Santos, and UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock. Other speakers included IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, and dignitaries from various nations. Discussions at the Assembly covered key topics such as regional energy transition, grid enhancement, long-term energy planning, digital innovation, financial mobilization, renewable energy in agriculture, and green industrialization. The event aims to accelerate the global energy transition and promote inclusive, sustainable prosperity through renewable energy.