Nepal seeks investment in hydropower

Kathmandu: The Power Summit scheduled to be held here on Monday and Tuesday will focus on investment in the power sector in Nepal.
Over 200 participants representing 100 domestic, regional and multinational overseas companies are taking part in the summit.
“The two-day summit will focus on the challenges and opportunities presented by the financing needs of hydropower projects,” TN Thakur, the Chairman and Managing Director of PTC India Limited, told a press conference here.
He said that the summit will also focus on hydropower development between India and Nepal and that discussions will be held on Indian investment in easing the domestic power crisis and future prospects of power trade and the development of the power sector.
“Forums like this summit are ideal platforms to discuss opportunities in the ever growing energy trade market,” he said, adding that emphasis will be laid on the implementation aspect this year.
He said that the PTC India will be helping Nepali developers in coming up with project plans through consultation and other assistance. Sandip Shah, president of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), said that private enterprises of both the countries are looking forward to meaningful discussions on long-term partnership during the summit.
Radhesh Pant, president of the Nepal Banker’s Association (NBA), said Nepali banks are very much interested in investing in the hydro-power sector. “There is hardly any bank which has not invested in any way or the other in the power sector,” he said.