Nepal's Hydropower Sector Faces Unprecedented Challenges Due to Devastating Floods
Summary
Devastating floods and landslides in the Bhote Koshi basin have damaged multiple hydropower projects in Nepal, forcing developers to rethink design, safety, and insurance. The sector is pushing for climate-resilient infrastructure and stronger state-backed risk reduction measures.
Key Points
- Floods and landslides in the Bhote Koshi basin have severely damaged 13 hydropower projects and raised concerns about investor confidence and project safety.
- The article says the disaster was not a normal flood but a major cataclysm caused by rock and ice collapse from high above the river.
- Hydropower developers are calling for underground powerhouses, SCADA-based automation, better escape routes, and basin-wide geological risk studies.
- The state, insurers, and organizations like ICIMOD are urged to support basin-level risk reduction and improved insurance mechanisms for the sector.
