Article Dans Une Revue Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International Année : 2025

Hydro Potential and Present Status of Hydropower Development in Nepal: A Review

Résumé

Nepal has enormous hydro potential that can be tapped for power generation. The hydro potential of Nepal was assessed 83000 MW by Dr Ram Man Shrestha during his Phd study in 1966. Since then No further study were carried out in this field. The advancement in computer technology offers many benefits for the study of water resources. Dr. Raghunath Jha carried out the energy mapping of river basins of Nepal using GIS and remote sensing developing Hydrological model in 2011. His studies revealed that Nepal pegs 53836 MW on ROR basis at Q40% flow exceedances, and 80% overall efficiency. In 2019 Water Energy commissions of Nepal government revealed 72000 MW hydro potential of three major basins Saptakoshi, Gandaki and Karnali. There are different figures of hydro potential however 83000 MW is considered as approximate potential for Nepal. First hydropower plant was Pharping of installed capacity 500 KW constructed in 1911. Before 1990 development was sluggish. After 1990 the development pace are encouraging. Hydropower development is challenging itself in Nepal. Political instability, poor economic condition of the country, vulnerable geology hinders the development. Poor institutional set up, weak policy, technical constraints and local people’s interest affects the development work. Still Nepal is importing more than 1000MW energy from neighboring country India and there is huge economic loss for power purchase. Up to 2025 the gross installed capacity of Nepal is 3255.806 MW which is 7.5% of total economically feasible hydro potential 43000MW. Strategic action and dedication of the Nepal government can bring the socioeconomic transformation in next level through the development of energy sector. For this the acknowledgement of major challenges for hydropower development, formulation of friendly policy, robust institutional set up are needed.

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Dates et versions

hal-05040503 , version 1 (19-04-2025)

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Citer

Dak Bahadur Khadka. Hydro Potential and Present Status of Hydropower Development in Nepal: A Review. Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International, 2025, 29 (4), pp.209-219. ⟨10.9734/jgeesi/2025/v29i4888⟩. ⟨hal-05040503⟩
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