NEPSE trading

Top
·

By Dipesh Ghimire

Experts Call for Policy Reforms to Boost Energy Investment at South Asia (BIN) Power Summit 2025

Experts Call for Policy Reforms to Boost Energy Investment at South Asia (BIN) Power Summit 2025

At the South Asia (BIN) Power Summit 2025 held in New Delhi, energy experts and industry leaders stressed that policy-level reforms are critical for accelerating cross-border investment in the region’s energy sector. The summit, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), brought together high-ranking government officials and private-sector representatives from Bhutan, India, and Nepal.

Nepal’s private sector delegation — led by Mohan Kumar Dangi, Senior Vice-President of the Independent Power Producers Association Nepal (IPPAN) — joined a five-member team attending the event. From the government side, a delegation led by Joint Secretary Nutan Kumar Sharma, who also serves as Deputy Director General of the Department of Electricity Development, represented Nepal in key discussions.

Speaking during the summit’s inaugural session, Sharma stated that Nepal is well positioned to meet the growing demand for clean, renewable electricity in South Asia. He emphasized that with supportive policies, Nepal could significantly contribute to the region’s energy security through hydropower-driven export potential.

During the thematic sessions, Senior Vice-President Dangi highlighted that long-term and short-term investments in hydropower infrastructure remain crucial for all BIN countries. He argued that structural policy adjustments — particularly in project approvals, transmission coordination, and open-access frameworks — are necessary to scale up energy production and encourage private-sector participation.

Dangi reminded delegates of Nepal’s national ambition to reach 28,500 MW of electricity generation by 2035, requiring an estimated USD 46.5 billion in investment. He encouraged international investors to explore “business-to-business” (B2B) partnerships that support hydropower development, grid enhancement, open-access transmission, and cross-border energy trading.

He noted that Nepal currently has an installed capacity of around 4,000 MW, with nearly 5,500 MW of projects under construction and an additional 3,000 MW of projects preparing to enter the construction phase after securing financial closure. Beyond that, the private sector is studying hydropower projects totaling 20,000 MW, indicating strong long-term prospects for large-scale energy expansion.

In another session, IPPAN Vice-President Ashish Garg emphasized that regional electricity demand has surged in the past two years, particularly in India and Bangladesh. He suggested that South Asian nations prioritize cross-border electricity trading by strengthening transmission connectivity and operational coordination.

Responding to concerns raised in the session, Subhash Kumar Mishra, Deputy Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), said that although challenges persist in BIN-level power trade — including regulatory hurdles, infrastructure gaps, and market entry barriers — these can be resolved with strategic planning and country-specific frameworks. Mishra expressed confidence that Nepal could greatly expand its energy exports if long-term cooperation mechanisms were formalized.

Garg further argued that large-scale cross-border electricity trade requires synchronized regulatory reforms, commercially viable transmission models, and modern grid infrastructure. He called for BIN nations to jointly develop policy instruments that support forward contracts, spot-market participation, and harmonized grid operations.

Addressing the evolving trade landscape, IPPAN Vice-President Uttam Bhlon Lama highlighted that electricity trade in South Asia is rapidly shifting from long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to more flexible market-based models. Under India’s new Cross-Border Electricity Trade Guidelines, daily transactions through the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) have become possible — creating new opportunities for Nepal’s surplus power.

Nepal currently exports over 1,000 MW of electricity to India and 40 MW to Bangladesh. Lama explained that Nepal earns stable revenue from exports to Bangladesh, while the Indian market allows both long-term and day-ahead trading, giving Nepal greater flexibility in pricing and volume management.

Lama also mentioned that although private companies in Nepal are ready to trade electricity internationally, the Nepalese government is still the sole entity authorized to do so at the moment. He urged policymakers to expedite regulatory reforms that would allow private-sector players to participate in cross-border trading, increasing competition and overall export capacity.

Despite the progress, Lama said that the region’s cross-border electricity exchanges remain at an early stage. To strengthen the system, South Asian countries must adopt clear strategies to integrate more electricity exchange platforms and facilitate easier market access for energy producers.

The summit concluded with experts urging BIN nations to develop aligned policies, strengthen transmission corridors, and remove administrative bottlenecks. Participants agreed that South Asia’s clean-energy transition depends on accelerated hydropower investment, improved regulatory coordination, and long-term regional cooperation.

Related Blogs

Understanding Margin Loans: Nepal’s New Trading Facility Expands Buying Power but Demands Investor Awareness
Top

3 min read

Understanding Margin Loans: Nepal’s New Trading Facility Expands Buying Power but Demands Investor Awareness

Understanding Margin Loans: Nepal’s New Trading Facility Expands Buying Power but Demands Investor Awareness Kathmandu — The introduction of margin lending under Nepal’s updated securities regulations has brought renewed attention to leveraged investing, a system that allows investors to purchase shares using borrowed funds through brokerage firms. As the concept gains visibility in the domestic capital market, financial experts emphasize that understanding how margin loans function is essential before investors begin using the facility.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

1 Mar, 2026

Nepal Introduces New Margin Trading Framework, Expanding Investment Access While Raising Risk Awareness
Top

4 min read

Nepal Introduces New Margin Trading Framework, Expanding Investment Access While Raising Risk Awareness

Nepal Introduces New Margin Trading Framework, Expanding Investment Access While Raising Risk Awareness Nepal’s Securities Board (SEBON) has implemented a new Margin Trading Directive 2082, replacing the earlier 2017 framework, in a move aimed at modernizing the country’s capital market and expanding investment participation. The revised regulation, effective from Falgun 1, introduces clearer operational structures and risk controls, signaling the regulator’s attempt to balance market expansion with investor protection.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

1 Mar, 2026

Green Economy Emerges as Central Election Agenda as Parties Compete Over Forest-Based Prosperity Plans
Top

3 min read

Green Economy Emerges as Central Election Agenda as Parties Compete Over Forest-Based Prosperity Plans

Green Economy Emerges as Central Election Agenda as Parties Compete Over Forest-Based Prosperity Plans Kathmandu — With the upcoming House of Representatives elections approaching, Nepal’s major political parties have increasingly placed the green economy at the center of their campaign narratives, presenting forest conservation and sustainable resource use as pathways to economic growth, employment generation, and climate resilience. The shift signals a growing recognition among political actors that environmental policy is no longer limited to conservation debates but has become closely tied to economic strategy and voter appeal. Across party manifestos, forests are being framed not merely as ecological assets but as economic engines capable of driving rural development and reducing import dependency. Campaign messaging highlights job creation, carbon trading opportunities, climate adaptation programs, and sustainable natural resource management as tools to attract voters amid economic uncertainty and rising unemployment concerns.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

1 Mar, 2026

Banking Federation Welcomes Mid-Term Monetary Policy Review, Sees Stability Focus but Flags Structural Risks
Top

3 min read

Banking Federation Welcomes Mid-Term Monetary Policy Review, Sees Stability Focus but Flags Structural Risks

Banking Federation Welcomes Mid-Term Monetary Policy Review, Sees Stability Focus but Flags Structural Risks Kathmandu — The Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) has welcomed the Nepal Rastra Bank’s mid-term review of the Monetary Policy for fiscal year 2082/83, describing the policy direction as cautious, measurable, and stability-oriented at a time when the domestic financial system continues to navigate post-slowdown recovery pressures. The federation believes the central bank has attempted to balance economic support with financial discipline rather than pursuing aggressive policy shifts.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

1 Mar, 2026

Nepal Begins Budget Work, Sets Up Revenue Advisory Committee to Shape Tax and Economic Reforms
Top

4 min read

Nepal Begins Budget Work, Sets Up Revenue Advisory Committee to Shape Tax and Economic Reforms

Nepal Begins Budget Work, Sets Up Revenue Advisory Committee to Shape Tax and Economic Reforms Kathmandu — Nepal’s Ministry of Finance has formally kicked off the process of preparing the national budget for the upcoming fiscal year by constituting a Revenue Advisory Committee, signaling the start of the government’s annual fiscal planning cycle. Officials say the move is aimed at collecting structured policy input before the budget ceiling, priorities, and tax proposals are finalized. According to the ministry, the committee has been formed under a decision of Finance Minister Rameshwar Prasad Khanal dated Magh 28 (Nepali calendar), with the Ministry’s Revenue Secretary serving as coordinator. The ministry’s spokesperson, Tank Prasad Pandey, said the committee has already started work, indicating that early-stage consultations and technical reviews are now underway. At its core, the committee’s mandate is broader than routine “tax suggestions.” It has been asked to advise on the economic context and on what the budget should prioritize—meaning it can influence both the revenue strategy (how the state raises money) and the policy direction (where the state plans to intervene, reform, or incentivize). In practice, such committees often become the route through which competing interests—business groups, sector associations, experts, and government agencies—try to shape the budget narrative.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

1 Mar, 2026

Rising US–Iran Tensions Push Middle East Toward a Dangerous Turning Point
Top

4 min read

Rising US–Iran Tensions Push Middle East Toward a Dangerous Turning Point

Rising US–Iran Tensions Push Middle East Toward a Dangerous Turning Point Kathmandu — The long-standing hostility between the United States and Iran appears to be entering one of its most volatile phases in decades as geopolitical tensions escalate sharply at the beginning of 2026. What began as ideological rivalry rooted in historical mistrust has now evolved into a complex confrontation with global economic, military, and diplomatic consequences. Analysts warn that the situation is approaching a critical threshold where miscalculation by either side could trigger a wider regional conflict. The roots of the confrontation stretch back more than seventy years. The 1953 coup in Iran, widely associated with Western intervention, and the 1979 Islamic Revolution that reshaped Iran into an Islamic Republic laid the foundation for enduring hostility between Tehran and Washington. Since then, mutual suspicion has shaped foreign policy decisions on both sides, turning the relationship into one of the most persistent geopolitical rivalries of the modern era.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

1 Mar, 2026

Nepal Must Reduce Production Costs to Compete in the International Market
Top

3 min read

Nepal Must Reduce Production Costs to Compete in the International Market

Nepal Must Reduce Production Costs to Compete in the International Market Nepal’s industrial journey formally began in B.S. 1992 with the establishment of the Industrial Council, followed by the founding of Biratnagar Jute Mill in B.S. 1993. The introduction of the Company Act in the same year paved the way for the establishment of rice, cotton, and sugar mills. Historical records show that nearly two dozen industries were set up during the Rana regime, marking the early foundation of institutional industrial development in the country.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

26 Feb, 2026

Future Strategy: Nepal’s Tourism Must Shift Toward a Generation-Centered and Integrated Model
Top

2 min read

Future Strategy: Nepal’s Tourism Must Shift Toward a Generation-Centered and Integrated Model

Future Strategy: Nepal’s Tourism Must Shift Toward a Generation-Centered and Integrated Model Nepal’s tourism industry is entering a phase where traditional approaches may no longer be sufficient. While mountaineering and trekking remain strong pillars of the sector, experts argue that the future of tourism must be “generation-centered”—designed to meet the preferences of younger travelers who seek diverse, flexible, and experience-driven destinations.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

26 Feb, 2026

Opportunities Within Challenges: Rethinking Nepal’s Tourism Strategy
Top

3 min read

Opportunities Within Challenges: Rethinking Nepal’s Tourism Strategy

Opportunities Within Challenges: Rethinking Nepal’s Tourism Strategy Nepal’s tourism discourse has long revolved around potential and opportunity. Policymakers frequently highlight the country’s strategic location between two of the world’s largest markets—India and China—while pointing to its religious, cultural, and natural wealth. Yet, beneath this optimistic narrative lies a pattern of structural gaps that continue to limit Nepal’s ability to fully capitalize on its advantages.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

26 Feb, 2026

Call for Official Tourist Information App to Modernize Nepal’s Travel Experience
Top

2 min read

Call for Official Tourist Information App to Modernize Nepal’s Travel Experience

Call for Official Tourist Information App to Modernize Nepal’s Travel Experience As global tourism increasingly shifts toward digital ecosystems, Nepal’s tourism sector is being urged to accelerate its technological transformation. Industry stakeholders argue that while technology has simplified travel planning worldwide, visitors arriving in Nepal still lack access to a unified, reliable digital information platform. This gap, experts say, is affecting both tourist convenience and the country’s international image.

Dipesh Ghimire

·

26 Feb, 2026