Centre of Electricity Trade Research and Facilitation (CETRF), a research center at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Kathmandu University organized a one-day seminar on the topic “Cross Border Power Trade in the South Asia Sub-Region: How Ready is Nepal?” on 13th June 2022 at Kathmandu.
The program officially started by a welcome speech by Prof. Manish Pokharel, Dean of the School of Engineering. The Principle Investigator of CETRF, Assistant Prof. Brajesh Mishra presented the introduction and the objectives of the research center.
Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Secretary of the Water and Energy Commission Secreteriat; Prabal Adhikari, Director of the Trade Department, NEA; Khadga B. Bisht, Executive Director of MCA-Nepal; and Ashish Garg, Vice-President of the IPPAN gave their talks on different issues related to the cross border power trade. The need of political ownership, legal framework, policy reforms, infrastructure, financing, competitive markets and geopolitics were some of the key issues that were discussed.
Associate Prof. Brijesh Adhikari, Associate Dean of the School of Engineering gave closing remarks highlighting the conclusions from the talks given by the speakers. The program ended with a panel discussion among some of the speakers and the faculties at KU and IoE regarding various issues of cross border power trade, which was moderated by Prof. Bhupendra Bimal Chhetri.
The event was a success, with about 70 participants from different Academic institutions, Nepal Electricity Authority, Independent Power Producers, Multinational agencies/institutions and national level media.
