January 10: Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) is preparing to organise the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2019 next week in association with Expo and Event Management Services Limited.

Issuing a statement, the organisers said that they are in the final stage of preparation for the event which will be held at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu from January 18-20.

The organisers are expecting a turnout of more than 1,00,000 visitors for the event.

Exhibitors include almost all stakeholders of hydropower sector in Nepal from engineering firms, machinery manufacturers, equipment suppliers, technology service providers, contractors, banks, insurance companies, construction material suppliers, heavy machinery and vehicle brands among others, reads the statement.

The statement further said that the National Planning Commission and Ministry of Energy Water Resources and Irrigation have provided patronage to the event realizing the need of such expo for the overall growth of the energy sector.

“The Himalayan Hydro Expo will showcase stalls from hydropower developers, state-of-the-art technology manufactures and suppliers, investors, insurance companies, banks, and construction companies from across Nepal, India, China, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, South Korea, Sweden and England,” the statement said.

According to the organisers, the products range from electro mechanical system, hydro mechanical system, control system, protection and data supervisory system, construction equipment, solar modules, electric vehicles as well as tunneling equipment.

The expo will also host various competitions for engineering students and eight participants from various engineering colleges are competing for the coveted first place.

“Another major attraction of the event is short helicopter rides to Dordi Corridor, Upper Marshyandi and Solu Corridor where numerous hydropower projects are in construction and few are already in operation wherein interested participants get a real feel of hydropower development that is going on in the country,” the statement added.

The organisers are also planning to launch the first version of Hydro Map (a computer application) intended to serve as a hydro database for all stakeholders which is jointly developed by IPPAN, Niti Foundation, and The Asia Foundation.

The expo will also feature other renewable energy initiatives in Solar PV system, wind energy potential and showcase of electric cars as substitute to the fossil fuel cars.