The French Embassy, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), and Blue Water Intelligence (BWI) jointly announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, February 7, to officially launch the HydroNepal Project.
This initiative aims to digitize Nepal’s river basins to optimize the country’s vast hydropower potential and strengthen preparedness for hydrological risks, according to a statement from the French Embassy.
NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising and BWI CEO Jeremy Fain signed the MoU in the presence of French Ambassador to Nepal Virginie Corteval at the NEA headquarters in Durbarmarg, Kathmandu.
“The HydroNepal Project will support Nepal’s long-term vision for low-carbon energy development by digitizing basin data and providing advanced hydrological insights, such as river discharge forecasts, flow duration curves, and flow frequency analysis—even for ungauged rivers,” the statement read. “Leveraging cutting-edge AI-powered hydrological modeling and data-driven solutions, HydroNepal will enhance Nepal’s capacity to acquire and analyze hydrological data for hydropower projects.”
The project will be implemented in collaboration with NEA, BWI, and academic institutions, including Tribhuvan University’s Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (CDHM). It aims to deepen the understanding of hydrological processes in the Himalayan region, particularly in the context of climate change, and their impact on hydropower generation.
Ambassador Corteval emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “The HydroNepal Project is a testament to the strong partnership between Nepal and France in advancing sustainable energy. France is proud to support Nepal’s efforts to maximize its hydropower potential and build climate resilience.”
Ghising added, “Let us work together to ensure the success of this project and turn this historic collaboration into a foundation for many more fruitful ventures between Nepal and France.”
Blue Water Intelligence, a French company specializing in basin digitization, provides AI-powered hydrological forecasts to governments and companies. The company operates across South Asia, Africa, Central America, and Europe.
