The first edition of Himalayan Hydro Expo is scheduled to kick off on January 5 at the Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall in Kathmandu, with an objective of promoting hydropower development of the country. The three day event is being jointly organised by Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN) — the umbrella body of private sector developers in association with Event Management Services Pvt Ltd (EMSPL) under the patronage of National Planning Commission, Energy Ministry and Ministry of Environment and Population.

During a press meet on Tuesday, Shailendra Guragain, president of IPPAN informed that various stakeholders involved in the hydropower sector of country like developers, investors, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, banks and construction companies will be showcasing around 200 stalls in the event. Hydropower developers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers and investors from China, Czech Republic, India, Korea, Nepal, Norway, Germany and Austria and other countries are participating in the event.

The major attraction of the event will be the participation of multinational companies like CMC Italy, VOITH-Germany, CRYSTAL-India, FLOVEL-India, VAPTECH-Bulgaria, MAVEL-Czech Republic, BFL-India, Powerchina-China and CSEC-China among others.

According to the organisers, the event will be beneficial for the expansion of the hydropower sector in Nepal as a significant number of large multinationals companies will be participating.

The organisers have dedicated the first day of the event for technical sessions where different participants will give live demonstration on hydropower related technologies and showcase hydropower related products and services. Similarly, the second day of the event will prioritise business sessions with banks and insurance companies exhibiting their products related to hydropower. On the third day, the organisers will host seminars and workshops on key hydropower issues.

The event, according to the organisers is being held at a time when government is planning to develop projects with a total install capacity of 17000MW within seven years. “The event will be of tremendous help to explore latest technologies and arrange funds for the development of large hydropower projects,” said Guragain. “The event will create linkage between developers and other key stakeholders like product and service providers, investors and lending agencies among others.”  

Similarly, the organisers will also be hosting a hydro expo competition among the hydro-related products and services developed by students and the best innovator will be awarded cash prize of Rs 55,555. The second and third best innovators will receive cash prize of Rs 22,222 and Rs 11,111.