INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, MARCH 31Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Shakti
Bahadur Basnet, presented a proposal in today's meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR), seeking general discussions on the agreement
related to establishing the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
PM Dahal presents proposal in parliament, seeking vote of
Rare diseases in Nepal: Lack of resources and medicines multiply
the patients' hardships
In tabling the motion,
Minister Basnet highlighted that the ISA was formed with the goal of increasing energy accessibility and ensuring energy security through
the promotion of renewable energy
He informed the House that all member nations of the United Nations were affiliated with it
Nepal signed the agreement in 2022, with 118 countries signing it thus far and 97 countries approving it, he added.The Energy Minister
emphasized that Nepal signed this pact with a commitment to prioritizing the use of clean energy and advancing energy security to
effectively combat the challenges of climate change.
He pointed out that in Nepal, priority should be given to solar energy
due to the fluctuating production of hydroelectricity throughout the year.Minister Basnet argued that while hydroelectricity production
increases during the monsoon, it decreases during the dry season, whereas energy demand and consumption remain relatively constant
Therefore, solar energy presents the best immediate solution to address the electricity demand, as construction of reservoir-based
hydroelectric projects is time-consuming.Lawmaker Madhav Sapkota stated that signing the ISA founding agreement would benefit Nepal by
increasing access to green finance
He emphasized that solar energy is the best option to bridge the gap between energy demand and supply in the country, and called for special
parliamentary discussions on climate change issues.Lawmaker Sobita Gautam stressed the importance of expanding access to renewable energy
sources to reduce the reliance on imported petroleum products, which account for approximately 23 percent of Nepal's total imports.Ganesh
Parajuli highlighted the potential for attracting significant foreign direct investment into the country's solar energy sector.Lawmaker
Metmani Chaudhary urged the government to give equal priority to solar power generation alongside hydropower to meet the growing demand for
electricity in the country.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com