Nepal’s hydropower ‘battery storage’ of South Asia: Minister Pun

New Delhi, Feb 12 . Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun has said that the development of hydropower in Nepal would work as’battery storage’ for the sustainability of the power supply system in South Asia.

Addressing the international sustainable development summit held here today, Minister Pun called for joint regional and sub-regional initiatives for energy availability, benefit and competition. “Considering the diverse demand and supply of power in every country in the region, our power system can be utilized with the possibility of a lower price,” he said.

Minister Pun also said that construction of multi-purpose reservoir projects in Nepal could not only meet the demand for power in the region, but also meet others needs like drinking water, irrigation, water transport, flood control and addressing challenges induced by climate change.

On the occasion, he said that Nepal was working to ensure access to power to every Nepali citizen in the next five years while also producing an additional 5,000 MW of power for transborder power trade.