Opinion | Why climate change is a threat to Nepal’s hydropower sector
Summary
Climate change is repeatedly damaging Nepal’s hydropower sector, with floods and landslides destroying projects, killing workers and causing billions of rupees in losses. The article calls for climate risk assessment, basin-wide planning and a new Nepal-specific hydropower guideline to reduce future damage.
Key Points
- Recent floods and landslides have damaged 901.1 MW of hydropower capacity and caused massive loss of life and property in Nepal and Tibet.
- Nepal has suffered repeated hydropower losses in every major monsoon since 2021, with cumulative direct losses reaching Rs18.5 billion.
- The article argues that climate risk assessment must be built into hydropower planning from the start, not treated as a compliance step.
- It calls for a Nepal-specific climate-resilient hydropower guideline, stronger early warning systems and better cross-border coordination with China.
