Nepal's Hydropower Bet: The Floods and Their Implications
Nepal has placed nearly all its bets on hydropower, generating almost 100% of its electricity from this source, with significant exports to India and Bangladesh. However, the very glaciers and mountains that provide this advantage are succumbing to global warming, as demonstrated by last Wednesday's devastating floods.
Over 1,300 lives were lost, with thousands still missing, and 12 hydropower plants in the Trishuli River basin severely damaged, accounting for over 10% of Nepal's total power generation capacity. Despite assurances from the Nepal Electricity Authority that supply remains adequate, a rethink of the hydropower policy is inevitable, especially with increasing climate-related disasters.
Historically, Nepal struggled with lengthy power cuts, but an expansion of hydropower infrastructure, coupled with efforts to combat corruption and boost energy imports from India, resulted in 24-hour power supply for most households by 2018. Currently, Nepal boasts 225 hydropower plants with a combined capacity of over 3,900MW, powering around three million households simultaneously.
Many of these projects are located high in the mountains, utilizing fast-flowing currents with minimal storage systems. However, the rapid warming of the high-altitude Himalayan regions poses significant environmental risks, as seen in the recent floods caused by a collapsed glacier.
While direct links to climate change are still under investigation, Nepal's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has noted that over 90% of disasters recorded between 2018 and 2024 were climate-related. Former Energy Minister Kulman Ghising emphasizes the need for more resilient plant designs, early warning systems, and robust emergency evacuation measures to prepare for such catastrophic events.