Kathmandu - Ganesh Karki, President of the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), has appealed to French investors to tap into Nepal’s growing hydropower sector, citing its vast potential and strategic regional importance.

Speaking at the France–Nepal Hydropower Investment Summit in Paris, Karki encouraged French stakeholders to invest without concern over electricity demand, emphasizing that Nepal’s hydropower will play a crucial role in addressing the increasing energy needs of South Asia.

⚡ Growth of Nepal's Energy Sector

Karki highlighted Nepal’s impressive energy journey, noting that:

• Prior to 1999, Nepal’s installed capacity was only 250 MW

• Today, it has reached 3,500 MW, a fourteen-fold increase in 25 years

• Private sector developers now contribute around 2,800 MW (80%) of that total

🤝 Franco–Nepalese Cooperation

He also acknowledged France’s support in Nepal’s hydropower progress, pointing to collaborative efforts in areas such as:

• Bilateral cooperation

• Technical support

• Institutional strengthening

• Innovative financing

Specifically, Karki mentioned France's role in financing the 216 MW Upper Trishuli 1 Project on the Trishuli River, which received a US$453 million loan jointly from France and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This project is expected to make a significant contribution to the national grid.

🌍 Innovative Projects & Technology Collaboration

Karki also spoke about the HydroNepal initiative, launched in 2025 with support from the French Embassy, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), and Blue Water Intelligence. The project uses AI-driven tools to digitize river basin data and improve climate forecasting, which is vital for sustainable hydropower planning.

He proposed that the HydroNepal model, based on public–private partnership, could also be replicated in:

• Carbon trading

• Cross-border power trade

• Research and innovation

📈 Future Opportunities in Energy

Nepal presents great potential for both business-to-business (B2B) and public–private partnerships (PPP) across:

• Technology transfer

• Engineering and consulting services

• Green finance and sustainable development

• Smart grid modernization

• Hydropower project development and equity investment

Karki emphasized that French companies, particularly those specializing in hydropower machinery, engineering, and smart grids, are well-positioned to collaborate with Nepal’s evolving energy landscape.

🚀 Vision for 2035: 28,500 MW Capacity

Karki shared the Government of Nepal’s target to achieve 28,500 MW of installed capacity by 2035, with plans to:

• Export 15,000 MW to India

• Utilize 13,500 MW domestically

This vision opens the door to significant foreign direct investment (FDI) in not just energy, but also:

• Insurance

• Banking

• Construction

• Health

• Infrastructure

• Education, and more

He mentioned that the plan involves an estimated investment of US$46 billion and represents a major opportunity for global investors.

🌐 IPPAN’s Role & Future Engagement

Karki reaffirmed IPPAN’s commitment to facilitating investment, partnerships, and cooperation with international players. Opportunities include:

• Energy trading and joint ventures

• Equity and loan financing

• Technology and knowledge exchange

• Hydropower equipment supply

• Smart grid and transmission upgrades

• Digitalization of operations

• Carbon market entry

• Regional energy integration

He expressed confidence that Nepal will steadily achieve its energy goals, with continued support from international investors and private sector collaboration.

📅 Invitation to Power Summit 2025

Karki also invited all stakeholders to take part in the upcoming Power Summit 2025, scheduled for Asoj 1–2, encouraging broader cooperation to help position Nepal as a key energy exporter in the region.

📸 Images & Content Courtesy: 
📰 Source: UrjaSanchar.com