Can Nepal’s hydropower boom withstand a changing Himalaya?
Summary
Nepal’s hydropower push is facing mounting risks as floods, landslides and glacier-related disasters damage plants, kill workers and expose weak planning in the Himalaya. Experts say the country must rethink its energy targets, environmental safeguards and benefits-sharing model as climate volatility intensifies.
Key Points
- Floods and landslides have repeatedly hit the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, exposing major vulnerabilities in Nepal’s hydropower expansion.
- Experts warn that climate-driven disasters, weak governance and poor environmental assessments are putting workers, communities and rivers at greater risk.
- Nepal’s hydropower boom has expanded electricity access and investment, but many communities say royalties, infrastructure and local benefits remain limited.
- The article raises broader questions about whether Nepal can reach its 30,000 MW target by 2035 without worsening damage to the Himalayan environment.
