At a national workshop on ‘Developing National Roadmap to Achieve SDG7 Goal’ organized jointly by the Ministry and the National Planning Commission with the support of UN ESCAP in the capital city on Wednesday, Minister Pun shared that citizen’s access to electricity would be ensured within two years in Nepal, which, he argued, would build solid foundation for prosperity. The import of electricity would be gradually reduced, and solar electricity and micro hydropower set up in the hilly and mountainous districts.
Clean energy would be managed in Tarai, the Minister mentioned. Renewable energy is another measure to reach the areas left out by the national transmission line, the Minister said, adding that the present energy consumption of 245kw per person per hour would be increased to 7000kw in coming five years. Similarly, member of the National Planning Commission, Dr Krishna Prasad Oli, viewed that Nepal’s roadmap for SDGs was prepared and the 15th periodic plan was put in place.
The government has put in priority the hydropower and renewable energy, he added. According to him, citizen’s present access to electricity which stands 80.7 percent would be reached 99 percent by 2030. Ministry Secretary Dinesh Ghimire said that the government would be capable to achieve goals determined by the SDGs in energy sector as different projects related to hydropower projects and renewable energy technology were in the phase of implementation.
Similarly, Chairperson of Electricity Regulations Commission, Dilli Bahadur Singh, said that the Commission had forwarded its activities in order to achieve energy related goals set by governments to achieve the related SDGs. Saying more than three billion of population is deprived of clean energy in the world and 3.8 million people died from air pollution inside the house, UNDP Resident Representative in Nepal, Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labe said that various initiatives taken by the government in development and expansion of clean energy in recent time has given positive results.
Likewise, Section Chief of Energy Division of UNESCAP, Michael Williamson, said that the SDGs have given special priority to promotion of reliable and affordable energy, saying the development of clean energy was necessary to reduce problems of world-wide climate change. RSS
