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Amid the need for long-term structural reforms in the energy sector, policy clarity, and institutional strengthening, the Central Energy and Water Resources Department of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has decided to play an active role in the overall energy and water resources policy-making process.

A departmental meeting held at the party’s central office concluded that structural challenges in energy production, transmission, and distribution systems, underutilization of renewable energy, and policy uncertainty in water resource management require initiatives even at the party level.

The meeting congratulated the newly appointed Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, and expressed expectations that he will play an effective role in policy reforms in the energy sector, creating an investment-friendly environment, and expanding the electricity market. The department also (indicated) its willingness to cooperate with the government to ensure long-term energy security, increase hydropower production, and promote regional energy trade.

The meeting was attended by departmental advisors Engineer Devendra Karki and Engineer Madhu Bhetwal, along with members Engineer Ambikesh Jha and Suman Kumari Joshi. Participants held detailed discussions on policy, technical, and institutional aspects of the energy sector.

The department also decided to collect data on technically skilled manpower and experts in the energy sector to further strengthen the department. This is viewed as a move toward adopting an evidence-based approach in policy-making.

The decisions of the meeting, chaired by Engineer Shriram Neupane, were unanimously approved.

Minister Shrestha is recognized as a leader emerging from the younger generation. Having entered politics from a professional background, he has recently established his presence through an alternative political stream.

Under his leadership, the Ministry of Energy is expected to prioritize energy self-reliance, expansion of hydropower generation, integration of renewable energy, and expansion of regional electricity trade. In particular, issues such as Nepal-India-Bangladesh energy trade, expansion of transmission lines, and attracting private sector investment are likely to remain central in policy-making.

At a time when the energy sector has long faced challenges such as policy instability, delays in project implementation, lack of transmission infrastructure, and regulatory weaknesses, the new leadership is expected to take concrete reform measures.

In this context, increased policy debate and technical engagement from political party departments can be seen as a positive sign for transforming the energy sector.

Jalasarokar