October 12: The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) on Thursday organized a day-long seminar in collaboration with the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) and the Nordic embassies to discuss on Nepal’s renewable energy future.   

The seminar which was organized in Kathmandu had series of talks on how Nepalis can have access to renewable energy easily. The seminar also aimed at promoting Nordic values in Nepal, as well as how every stakeholder can equally engage to make energy accessible to everyone in the country.

The seminar was entitled ‘Nordic Talks and Exhibition’.

The Nordic Model is a common term for the socio-economic policies governing the Nordic countries like Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

A statement jointly issued by the organizers reads, “The experiences from Nordic countries, both on the role of the private sector and the government policies, can provide lessons and energize a green transaction with renewable energy for future of Nepal.”

Speaking at the seminar, Khadga Bahadur Bisht, who is the head of Stakeholder Management and Business Development, said that Nepal is picking up pace on the use of renewable energy.

“The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has also put its full effort now to make electricity accessible to every household. The effort of NEA to end load shedding should be praised,” he said, adding that the dream of Nepal to produce 10,000 MW electricity will not be possible without the help and support from every stakeholder.

Likewise, Sheelagh O Reilly, monitoring, evaluation and learning principal consultant for IOD PARC said that Nepal needs to focus on testing of the  equipment that are imported from other countries.

“The testing of equipment will ensure that the plants which generate renewable energy will be long lasting, which will be handy to save money for people and the whole country,” she said.

“The relationship between the government, private sector and citizens of Nepal, as well as with neighboring countries, will play an ever-increasing role in Nepal’s own journey towards sustainable, renewable and inclusive foreign trade,” the statement added.