The Nepal Weekly 
February 20, 2024
The Electricity Bill which is under process to turn into a law has been condemned by private sector renewable energy actors. They say that the bill concerns only on promoting hydropower business.
The proposed bill requires to be an umbrella act covering the importance of hydropower, microhydro, Solar, Biogas and others.
Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON) had issued a statement in this regards to draw attention of the concerned authorities. Earlier it had submitted a written ‘request’ to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation through the subcommittee which looks after the subject matter and conducting consultations with stakeholders.
RECON is a common forum of associations of private sector involved in supplying and delivering alternative energy service and NGOs involved in promotion of alternative energy in Nepal. It works as an umbrella organization of associations of private sector who are committed to lobby and advocacy and are highly dedicated in creating enabling environment to safe guard the rights and wellbeing of professionals and practitioners involved in renewable energy value chain.
The confederation had stated that the proposed bill not even mentioned renewable energy. Therefore, it needs to incorporate other renewable energy generating technologies other than hydropower. It must be taken seriously, the statement stressed.
It further says that a sizable amount from the national coffer has been invested in the renewable energy technologies so far. The electricity generated by RETs available in Nepal can contribute to the total electricity generation and connecting to the national grid had been a success as well. So such resources must not be undermined. The proposed act needs to be supportive to the RETs. Moreover, energy security and energy mix are interconnected aspects and the technologies other than hydropower are the contributing factors. So that RETs must be taken as important instrument in the electricity sector. Thus act, thus, should be highly responsible in incorporating RETs.
The statement further says that Nepal has been a party for Net Zero Emission. The country expressed commitment to achieve that by year 2045. Likewise, a number of commitments like Nationally Determined Contributions, Sustainable Development Goal and others.
Nepal needs to create access to bring in global climate funds for promotion of RETs which can contribute that country in economic development by reducing import of fossil fuels, reducing carbon emissions. Higher the electricity production in the country industries, agriculture, employment, economic development will get accelerated. As such, promotion of RETs and technologies developed in the country should be part of concerns of the proposed Electricity Bill.
Talking to TNW, chairperson of RECON Guna Raj Dhakal said “we are preparing consultations with experts and professionals, and we will meet concerned ministers, secretaries, NPC members, and also other political leaders for the betterment of the act to be endorsed. So that the act will be supportive to renewable energy technologies as well. “
