Nepal gears up for Power Summit 2025 to achieve 28,500 MW green energy goal

KATHMANDU: Nepal is set to host the Power Summit 2025 on September 17–18, aiming to mobilize regional and global support in achieving its ambitious energy target of 28,500 megawatts by 2035. The international event, organized by the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) under the theme ‘Mission 28,500 MW: Powering Nepal, Energizing Region, will bring together over 1,000 participants from 30 countries, including global investors, policymakers, and energy experts.

The summit is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, with India as the Country Partner, and participation from international organizations, embassies, development partners, and private sector stakeholders. The event follows the Government of Nepal’s recently launched Energy Development Roadmap 2081, which sets the vision of producing 25,000 MW of additional electricity within the next decade.

Since the introduction of the Electricity Act 1992, Nepal’s private sector has emerged as a major contributor to national energy development. Of the country’s current 3,602 MW installed capacity, more than 2,900 MW—over 80%—has been generated by Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The private sector has so far invested over Rs. 1,300 billion in hydropower and is eyeing an additional Rs. 5,000 billion investment.

‘Private investment has transformed Nepal’s energy landscape in just 25 years, a feat that took the state over a century to accomplish,’ said an IPPAN Chair Ganesh Pandey. Currently, IPP-led projects with a total capacity of 4,200 MW are under construction, while another 4,100 MW worth of projects have completed power purchase agreements (PPAs) and are awaiting financial closure.

The Power Summit 2025 is not only a platform to promote green energy development but also a strategic effort to boost cross-border power trade, enhance energy security, and encourage carbon trading across South Asia. The summit will also showcase Nepal’s capacity to become a hub for clean energy exports, especially to India and Bangladesh, leveraging its hydropower potential to support regional decarbonization goals.

High-profile attendees will include the Prime Minister of Nepal, ministers, secretaries, and dignitaries from neighboring countries and beyond. National and international banks, insurance firms, consulting firms, and construction companies are also expected to participate.

Power Summit 2025 will delve into policy reforms, financing mechanisms, and infrastructure development. It will address climate change adaptation, natural disaster risk reduction, and internal energy consumption growth. Experts will explore ways to make Nepal’s energy future more resilient, inclusive, and aligned with net-zero emissions targets.

The summit marks the ninth edition of IPPAN’s flagship energy conference, following previous summits held in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2023. These gatherings have consistently acted as catalysts for investment and policy transformation in Nepal’s energy sector.

According to IPPAN, Power Summit 2025 will position Nepal as a regional leader in sustainable and green energy, foster international collaborations, and provide actionable insights for fulfilling the vision set by the Energy Development Roadmap.

The event is anticipated to set a new benchmark in regional energy cooperation by fostering discussions on cross-border transmission, policy synchronization, and innovative financing. It is expected to deliver concrete recommendations for the government and pave the way for a stable and investor-friendly energy ecosystem in Nepal.