Nepal to become a centre of excellence in sustainable hydropower with new partnership
The International Hydropower Association’s (IHA) Sustainability Team and the Nepal Hydropower Association have partnered up to train over 60 professionals on the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
Supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and in association with Bizbell, the training will support the hydropower industry in implementing the standard to improve project performance and attract green finance.
“This training is a milestone in bringing key stakeholders onto one platform to work towards introducing the Hydropower Sustainability Standard to Nepal” – commented Arun Rajauria, General Secretary of Nepal Hydropower Association.
The partnership is focused on improving the sustainability of hydropower in the region with a view to the Nepal Hydropower Association becoming a centre of excellence for sustainable hydropower development in South Asia.
Starting with Certified User training, the partnership will lead a programme of work including training courses, workshops on key sustainability issues and an assessment of a hydropower project using the internationally recognised Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
Through this programme, professionals across Nepal will learn how to measure and upgrade the sustainability performance of hydropower projects and make informed choices throughout a project’s life cycle.
The Secretary of Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Dinesh Kumar Ghimire said: "The ministry will put our best efforts to support the implementation of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard and I hope the Standard will be instrumental in fulfilling our sustainable development goals.”
Hydropower plays a vital role in Nepal’s energy system, and as the country’s economy rapidly grows, power demand will also rise. In order to reach net zero targets and protect the country’s environment, it is vital that all new sources of electricity are developed and operated sustainably.
Founder of Bizbell Sushil Pokharel said: “Adoption of international guidelines of sustainable hydropower development will help us to unlock investment opportunities in Nepal. It’s equally important to uplift the lives of local community.”
Alain Kilajian, Senior Sustainability Specialist at IHA commented: “We are excited to be partnering with NHA to make Nepal a model for sustainable hydropower development in the region. Our collaboration aims to train local professionals to identify and support socially and environmentally responsible hydropower projects.
“This is a crucial time for the Nepalese hydropower sector, and we hope our partnership can help bring long-term benefits not only to local communities affected by these projects but also to the wider Nepalese society.”
Find out more about the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
Notes to editors
About IHA
The International Hydropower Association is a non-profit membership association. It is the voice for sustainable hydropower and its membership manages and operates around a third (450GW) of global installed hydropower worldwide.
Its Sustainability team are the Secretariat of the Hydropower Sustainability Council, who work to tangibly increase the sustainability of the hydropower sector encouraging the uptake of the independent, internationally recognised Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
About NHA
NHA is a non-profit membership organisation and was established in August 1999, initially as a national committee of the International Hydropower Association which later transitioned to an independent organisation with a mission to promote sustainable hydropower through capacity building of hydropower professionals in Nepal and policy advocacy. NHA has a special role in supporting Nepal’s transition to green, resilient, and inclusive development for sustainable hydropower, which has a special place in national policy by the Government of Nepal.
About Bizbell
Bizbell is an independent power producer and a strategic investment manager based in Nepal. Founded by a group of experienced entrepreneurs, planners, and researchers in 2014, it has a team of highly experienced professionals in the clean energy sector. Bizbell has a portfolio of 1000 MW in renewable energy and offers impact-based return of investment.