. The government is active to identify policy-level and implementation-related weaknesses seen in the energy sector. Various study committees have been formed to strengthen good governance in the energy, water resources and irrigation sectors.

The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has taken this step to make its work more effective, transparent and accountable by implementing the decision of the Council of Ministers on March 13.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry today, a six-member committee has been formed under the coordination of Joint Secretary Dr Rajan Bhattarai to carry out a detailed study on policy, technical and financial aspects of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed with the Nepal Electricity Authority.

Ministry’s Spokesperson Sandip Kumar Dev said the committee would analyse the status of PPA so far, identify policy, technical and legal problems and recommend improvement in the PPA. He also said that the responsibility has been given to propose measures to make the PPA process more transparent, competitive and in line with the national interest in coming days.

Likewise, another committee has been formed to objectively review the status and progress of various licenses issued by the Department of Electricity Development. The five-member committee led by Joint Secretary Mohan Shakya will identify policy, technical, financial and legal weaknesses in the process of issuing the license and give suggestions for necessary improvements.

The Ministry has said that policy and legal reforms will be carried out on the basis of the study reports of these committees.