The capacity of hydropower generation, which started at 500 kilowatts in 1968, had reached 665 megawatts by 2068, a century later. Due to the enthusiastic participation of the private sector in the last decade, the total installed capacity of hydropower has reached 2,033 megawatts by 2078 and 3,687 megawatts by last Mangsir. The open and liberal licensing system adopted by the Electricity Act, 2049, has led to enthusiastic participation of the private sector. That is why the private sector has produced more than 3,300 megawatts in 26 years.

Currently, 190 projects worth 5,700 megawatts are under construction, while 958 projects worth 36,336 megawatts are in various stages. An investment of about 1.3 trillion rupees has been made for electricity generation. Due to the state's own policies, various challenges have been added to the energy sector in recent times. Of course, all political parties say that the country will be built through energy. In Nepal, all political parties have somewhere or other said that the country will prosper through energy. But it is not clear exactly what that development is.

The government itself sets various energy targets. But it does not pay attention to implementation. The government has also brought the Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan 2081. It has set a target of producing 28,050 MW of electricity by 2035, with a total of 13,500 MW of electricity consumed in the country, 15,000 MW exported to India and 5,000 MW to Bangladesh. This is not the first target of the government.

The National Planning Commission has set a power generation capacity of 8,500 MW in the 16th Five Year Plan and a long-term target of producing 40,000 MW by 2100. The third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) has set a target of producing 14,000 MW of electricity by 2030 and 28,500 MW by 2035. Clear policies and plans are required to achieve these targets. However, the government has set targets but has not paid attention to implementation.

It has already signed an agreement to export 10,000 MW of electricity to India. It has signed an agreement to sell 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh and has started exporting. It is preparing to export 60 MW of electricity to Bangladesh from June 15, along with an additional 20 MW.

Now the government has discouraged the private sector from investing in order to meet the set targets and encouraging them through the budget. The government has introduced a provision in the budget for the current fiscal year to enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) for run-of-river hydropower projects on a 'take and pay' basis. Due to which, the PPA of projects for which the authority has already issued a notice to do so has been stopped. The Nepal Electricity Authority had been doing PPA for hydropower projects up to 10 MW at any time. It has been stopped due to this point in the budget. The government said it would produce 28,500 megawatts of electricity, but instead of opening a PPA, it has introduced a system for making a PPA in accordance with 'take and pay' in the budget. Therefore, the government should be clear in its actions.

Now a new government is in the process of coming. The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) had sent written suggestions on what should be included in the manifestos of political parties. However, the agenda of all political parties is development. After the Gen-G demonstration, employment is added to every subject somewhere. But to create employment, industries and factories must be opened in the country in large numbers. Earlier, agriculture was talked about. Now tourism and information and technology sectors are talked about. Sometimes, mineral mining and crypto are also heard. Energy is indispensable for all these subjects. Data centers have opened in India, there is no electricity there even for a second. Reliable electricity is needed. Our thinking should be to produce electricity to last at least 12 months. Now there is no other possibility without developing energy. The government and political parties should emphasize creating an environment where electricity produced in Nepal is not only exported but also consumed in Nepal. The

parties should at least say that they will advance energy development in this way. We should move forward because electricity is not just for heating at home. Multinational companies have already come to India. If we provide all the facilities, Nepal can also come. We provide quality and reliable electricity for twelve months, and if we also look at the tax system, companies that have come to India will also come to Nepal. Infrastructure should be created for that. Energy is not available today and tomorrow. Therefore, we should be clear about where we will develop energy. We should be clear on all issues including how much electricity is required in Nepal, how many licenses will be issued. There are many policy problems related to the energy sector. We should also think about how to resolve them.

Coming with a target of 28,500 MW but not making policy reforms is not possible. Therefore, political parties should come with a commitment to make policy reforms. Now a party comes and says, 'I will do it if I join the government' but does not. If all parties have the same opinion, then whoever joins the government must do it. Regardless of which political party is the Prime Minister, the agenda of developing the country through energy, bringing industry and moving it forward should be shared. At least on the issue of development, political parties should move forward with a common opinion.

We say that we will replace gas and encourage the use of electric stoves in every home. Currently, the introduction of electric vehicles is increasing. But what is the strategy for quality and reliable electricity? How and who will spend on infrastructure? There should be a plan to produce and consume this much megawatts through energy by 2035 or in five years. A clear plan and policy should be brought to sell the excess electricity to neighboring countries.

On the one hand, if the private sector continues to issue permits for hydropower projects and on the other hand, PPA is not done, the private sector will be in trouble. It should also be clear how the private sector has invested Rs. 1.3 trillion. It should also be clear whether the private sector is needed or not. If it is needed, political parties should come with a commitment to create an investment-friendly environment while appreciating the contribution of the private sector. There should be no tendency to give priority only after the government is formed and not give it if it is not formed.

Nepal should be declared an energy-friendly country to transform Nepal into a strong and capable country in energy security and to develop Nepal into a country that uses 100 percent clean and green energy. The leadership of political parties and the leadership of various bodies themselves do not understand the energy sector well. Because the leadership did not understand, 'Take and Pay' found a place in the budget. The same government says that it will build 28,500 MW, the same government brought 'Take and Pay' PPA in the budget. In the past, the authority had done PPA saying that there was no need. If two thousand was needed, it would have done only two thousand. There was no need to bring it in the budget and stop it. The then Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel read in the parliament that the word 'take and pay' had been removed. The then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that it was brought because it would have a good effect, but it was removed because it would do harm. The honorable people applauded. But it was not changed on paper. Not changing the paper on a matter passed by the parliament is a betrayal of the nation and an insult to the MP. Such a game should not happen. If the leadership did not do it, then the employees may have done it, action should be taken against them.

The government is giving licenses for hydropower projects, but has stopped the PPA. Since the licenses have been given, investments are being made with the intention of buying them someday. Therefore, the state should be clear - whether to give licenses and create an environment that allows the private sector to find its own market. After that, there will be no problem even if the authority does not do PPA.

Nepal Electricity Authority is the only organization that buys and sells electricity. Lately, the authority has not done PPA for projects that have obtained survey licenses and production licenses for electricity production. Therefore, along with production, the private sector should be opened up to the transmission line. If you think that it will sink if you let it do production alone, then transmission and trade can also be given to the private sector. Like the cement industry, they should find a market and let them sell.

Along with electricity production, the market should be opened up to sales. Entrepreneurs create by taking risks themselves. Banks invest after trusting them. They find a market for selling electricity themselves. The Electricity Act, 2049 should be amended to create a competitive environment through multiple sellers and multiple buyers.

When energy is developed, people from small employees to hotels run. Millions get jobs. Roads reach every village. When the private sector builds 4,000 MW, 3,300-3,700 kilometers of roads have been built. If 28,000 MW is built, how many roads will be built?

Currently, 16 government agencies have to be visited to build a hydropower project. If there is a forest problem, it has to reach the Council of Ministers through various ministries. To bring explosives, it has to reach the embassy through Defense, Foreign Affairs. For IE and EIA, it has to reach the Ministry of Forests through Energy. There should be an arrangement for all these works to be done from one place. In this case, foreign investors get tired of roaming around. That is why a one-stop policy is necessary. The Ministry of Energy should be made powerful. There should be an arrangement where all the processes can be completed from there.

Production was done, the policy was improved, but if the transmission line is not built, where will the electricity go? Even now, because hydropower projects are being built but the transmission line is not built, the electricity from 33 projects is being wasted. Even in the rainy season, it is not possible to produce as per capacity. How will entrepreneurs of projects that have already been built pay the principal and interest? If the government cannot build the transmission line on time, it should be given to the private sector. The government should formulate a policy for inter-country transmission lines and let the private sector work. The private sector should also be included in the transmission line. There has always been a tendency to distrust the private sector. It was not thought that a country cannot be built without the private sector. It was thought that what will happen if it is given to the private sector. However, society, employment, revenue and the economy are dynamic with the private sector.

All political parties should make a commitment that the policy will be stable even if the government changes. We should come up with a common agenda on issues such as industrialization, energy development. A new Electricity Act should be brought in line with the times. An act that is more difficult for investors than the old act should not be introduced. If a law is made that puts yesterday's investments in danger, there will be a problem.

There is also an example that shows that a leadership that understands energy makes a difference. Kulman Ghising solved the forest problem. He finalized the 1200 MW Budhi Gandaki project, whose investment framework was not finalized. A short time could not solve all the problems. The next government should come up with a clear plan and commitment.

The Electricity Regulatory Commission issued an open access directive to open up the private sector to the transmission line. But it was not fully implemented. The government still relies on the act to be brought. When the regulatory body brings any policy or rule, it should be implemented at once. Transmission lines, wheeling charges, etc. should be specified.

So far, PPAs for 11,600 MW of hydropower and 1,000 MW of solar energy have been signed. All of them will be built. But industry and infrastructure are needed for consumption. Investment should be made in the transmission and distribution system. If the government does not pay attention to it, electricity will be wasted.

The private sector is currently building run-of-river hydropower projects. There are problems with land acquisition and other issues in these projects. The private sector should be encouraged to build reservoir and semi-reservoir hydropower projects. For this, the government should make an integrated policy on land acquisition and forest-related issues. To build reservoir or semi-reservoir projects, villages should be relocated or large areas should be acquired. So, how much 10, 20, or 30 percent more than the prevailing price should the government give? In that way, a policy should be brought on land acquisition and compensation that is applicable to the whole country.

The compulsion to take separate decisions with hundreds of forests for transmission lines should be removed. A clear policy is also needed on issues such as local shares, IPOs, premium shares. 70-80 million citizens have invested in the hydropower sector. If the private sector had not built the project, there would have been 18-hour load shedding even today. The government cannot build it alone. The government should make the policy, the private sector should develop it. With energy development, agriculture, tourism, roads, and information technology all sectors move forward. Therefore, an integrated policy is necessary for energy development. After the Gen-G movement, the Madhya Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project was closed due to the share issue. It had to bear losses. Many other projects are facing these problems. Now an energy security policy is necessary to protect the hydropower project. The next government should pay attention to it. The energy sector has now become the main basis for the country's prosperity and development. A policy should be taken to attract investors in the energy sector, which has the highest investment in Nepal.

In order to achieve the government's goals, it is necessary to include the private sector in electricity trade, transmission, and distribution. The plan to achieve the country's prosperity through energy development will not be completed unless the private sector is included in this. Therefore, the following aspects should be taken into account: 

– To transform Nepal into a strong and capable country in energy security and to develop Nepal into a country that uses 100% clean and green energy, declare Nepal an energy-friendly country .

– To amend the Electricity Act, 2049, and to include the private sector in electricity trade, transmission and distribution to create a competitive environment through multiple sellers and multiple buyers .

– The National Planning Commission has set a power generation capacity of 8,500 MW in the 16th Five-Year Plan and 40,000 MW within the long-term target of BS 2100, according to the Energy Development Roadmap-2081 put forward by the Government of Nepal, to achieve the target of 28,500 MW by 2035 and the third National Determined Contribution (NDC) to achieve 14,000 MW by 2030 and 28,500 MW by 2035, immediately open the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a clear plan and attract domestic and foreign investors . In addition, the Government of Nepal will formulate a separate plan for the energy sector to achieve the goal of 'net zero emissions' by 2045 and will impose an energy crisis until these goals are achieved and give special priority to production.

– The state will build basic infrastructure for the promotion of every industry and business to increase electricity consumption, such as in the cement industry, and will give priority and concessions to the use of industries and vehicles that consume more electricity.

– Exporting Nepal's clean and green energy to neighboring countries to reduce increasing imports and strengthen weak exports.

– Encouraging the necessary financial instruments to secure the investment of domestic and foreign investors in energy.

– The government will provide special honors to investors who invest more in industries and businesses including energy.

– Developing a clear policy and roadmap for energy development between the federal, provincial and local governments and constructing large-scale projects in public-private partnership.

– Since investments in energy are made on the basis of existing laws, investors will be discouraged by unstable policies by creating an environment where they can move forward on the basis of existing laws.