Minister Shrestha Stresses Preparedness for El Niño's Potential Impacts on Nepal

Nepal's Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, has emphasized the critical need for immediate action and robust preparedness to counter the potential impacts of Super El Niño.

Addressing a national workshop on climate risks, Shrestha stressed that forecasts indicate a heightened likelihood of Super El Niño affecting Nepal's rainfall, temperature, hydropower production, irrigation, and food security. He underscored the urgency of taking these potential impacts seriously.

"As Kulekhani-1 is only one seasonal reservoir project in the 4,120 MW electricity system currently operational in Nepal, there is therefore a need to increase storage capacity in the energy sector," the minister stated. He argued that developing reservoir projects and enhancing storage capacity are essential for energy security, particularly given Nepal's increasing dependence on energy imports during dry seasons, despite significant progress in energy trade.

Regarding irrigation, Shrestha noted that most projects rely on small and medium rivers, leading to insufficient water during dry periods. He highlighted that a prolonged drought has already impacted agricultural production, making climate-resilient agriculture an urgent necessity. To this end, the ministry has developed the Tarai-Madhesh Drought Resilience Strategy.

To improve monitoring and response, a 'Water-Energy Drought Monitoring' mechanism has been established. This initiative, involving several key departments, aims to publish monthly information from October to March to track the evolving situation and inform mitigation efforts.

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As Kulekhani-1 is only one seasonal reservoir project in the 4,120 MW electricity system currently operational in Nepal, there is therefore a need to increase storage capacity in the energy sector.