KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that renewable energy should be linked with private investment, entrepreneurship, employment and production growth to make it the basis of national economy.

Addressing the 30th anniversary of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre here today, he said the renewable energy should not be limited as a subsidy-based programme but should be translated into economic prosperity and energy security.

Minister Shrestha stressed on the need of equal importance to development and use of solar energy, micro hydropower, bio-gas and biomass besides big hydropower projects to fulfill the goal of energy based economy.

“We should move ahead to make renewable energy the base for production, entrepreneurship, employment and economic prosperity through the program of access to renewable energy,” he said, adding that energy security should not only be seen from the measurement of production but also from the view of resource diversification, guarantee of access, reliability of supply system and productivity of energy. ”

Minister Shrestha also directed the Alternative Energy Promotion Center to immediately start preparations to implement the ‘LP Gas-Free Municipality’ concept that the government is going to forward in the coming days. He said that it is not only a program to find alternatives to fuel but also an important initiative to promote economic development of local levels and increase self-sufficiency in energy. Minister Shrestha said that a planned program would be prepared after studying the energy potential, demand, consumption and future needs of each municipality.

He also urged the Centre to prepare a clear action plan linking the production and use of solar energy, micro hydropower, biogas and biomass with agriculture, industry, tourism and local economy.

Minister Shrestha said that the Centre’s achievement in the last three decades is remarkable that more than 37 million households that remain in remote areas and those who remain out of the reach of the national grid have been benefited by renewable energy technology.

He said that the development of renewable energy should not only be limited to grants and projects, but should be linked with private sector investment, new technology, local entrepreneurship and business potential.

Minister Shrestha said that Nepal getting recognition as the first direct access agency from the Green Climate Fund and expansion of the Centre’s engagement in carbon trading and climate finance were significant achievements.