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Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has cancelled his scheduled visit to South Korea, prioritizing rescue, restoration, and efforts to normalize electricity supply in the wake of the natural disaster that has severely affected Nepal’s energy sector.

The decision comes as the recent flooding in the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli river system has caused extensive damage to energy infrastructure, while a large number of people remain unaccounted for. Given the ministry’s responsibility to coordinate search and rescue operations effectively, Minister Shrestha decided not to proceed with the foreign visit.

According to the ministry, the trip was postponed to focus on restoring damaged energy infrastructure, ensuring regular and systematic electricity supply, facilitating support for affected private energy developers, and accelerating post-disaster reconstruction and recovery efforts.

Minister Shrestha had been invited as a keynote speaker at the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference 2026, held in Seoul, South Korea, from September 15 to 17.

The Cabinet had approved the visit on Shrawan 13, with a delegation led by Minister Shrestha and including Nepal Electricity Authority Managing Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha scheduled to attend the conference.

However, in light of the extensive flood-related damage to the energy sector and the urgent need for the ministry’s active involvement in rescue operations, restoration work, and electricity supply management, Minister Shrestha ultimately decided to cancel the visit.

Nepalpurbadhar