Kathmandu-Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, has said a dedicated act regarding the renewable energy and the energy sufficiency is the priority of the government. During his address to a program to exchange learnings and experience regarding the implementation of the Nepal Renewable Energy Program (NREP), the joint initiative of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre and the UK Government here today, he said the government has realized the need of a dedicated act to deal with the renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The NREP has supported to increase private sector's investment in renewable energy projects and expand citizens' access to renewable energy, according to the Minister. He cited that the Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan, 2081 BS that was endorsed by the Council of Ministers recently has highly prioritized the renewable energy, energy sufficiency and the clean energy transformation in its international commitments regarding clean energy and climate change, and the national goals as well.

The Roadmap has set the target of generating 28,500 megawatts of electricity with annual per capita consumption of 1500 units, aiming to expanding the electrification to hundred percent households within the next two years through Off-grid solar, wind and micro hydropower development. As he said, these sorts of initiatives will help Nepal meet its commitments to lowering the carbon emissions to nil by 1045 BS as per the Paris Agreement. Energy Ministry's Secretary Suresh Acharya underlined the need of cooperation and support from donors to meet Nepal's target for generating 28,500 megawatts of electricity by 2035.

Alternative Energy Promotion Centre's executive director Nawaraj Dhakal, program coordinator Suman Basnet and Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal's Chair Kushal Gurung acknowledged the support of the UK government and people there for the development and promotion of renewable energy in Nepal. The six-year program (launched in January-February, 2019) will be concluding on March 31, 2025.