Kathmandu, Jan 17: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said there is no need to worry over energy consumption as heavy industries like iron and steel industries and fertilizer plants are in the process of establishing within the country itself and as preparation is being made to operate the closed industries in a new modality.
PM Oli gave this assurance while addressing the Silver Jubilee programme of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) here today. He said there was no need to worry about the sale of energy as the energy producers would themselves find market for consumption of the energy produced.
The Prime Minister said the government has prepared a road map for generating 28,500 MW of electricity within the next 11 years.
“We have eight industrial zones. We are in the process of operating the Dhaubadi iron mine and opening a fertilizer factory. Gas is being produced in Dailekh. The closed industries are being revived. All of them will need energy,” he said, adding that research is also ongoing for producing green hydrogen energy.
Pointing out that new possibilities have to be explored in this sector, the PM said he appreciated the contribution of the power producers who are making efforts to take the country towards light from darkness through modernization and development.
He called on the power producers to invest in this sector and not to look for other forms of investment ‘by leasing out the rivers for which you hold the license for power production to other investors.’
Stating that equal importance has been given to the government’s as well as the private and foreign sector’s investment in the energy sector, PM Oli said that the success achieved by the energy producers has brought a change in the situation of the country and a fitting reply to those who are saying only the state governance system changed and there was no change in the life of the people.
In a different context, Prime Minister Oli clarified that the ordinances have been issued to serve the people and speed up development, adding that they would be presented in the parliament session to be held in the next 15 days and passed within two months.
The Prime Minister also expressed his determination on the occasion to make the country prosperous by increasing the production of renewable energy and reducing the use of fossil fuels, including imported coal, petrol and diesel, which affect the environment.
