Hydro Expo preparations at the final stage

Kathmandu, Jan. 10: The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) has said that the preparation for hosting the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2019 has reached to its final stage.

The IPPAN said that it has received an overwhelming response from national as well as international exhibitors to participate in the expo.

Almost all stakeholders of the hydropower sector in Nepal, from engineering firms, machinery manufacturers, equipment suppliers, technology service providers, contractors, banks, and insurance companies to theconstruction material suppliers and heavy machinery and vehicle brands, will participate in the expo.

The 3-day expo will be inaugurated by Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun at Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Centre on January18.

"Technology and other products from Nepal, India, China, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, South Korea, Sweden and England will be showcased in the expo," said Shailendra Guragain, President of IPPAN.

The products range from electro-mechanical, hydro-mechanical, control, protection and data supervisory system, construction equipment, solar modules, electric vehicles, tunneling equipment from prominent institutions like VOITH, Epicrock Mining India, WEG Industries India Pvt. Ltd, APE Power, GEPPERT Hydropower, Toshiba Corporation, DEC Dongfeng Electric Machinery Co., Ltd and others.

The expo will also host various competitions for the engineering students and eight participants from various engineering colleges are competing for the coveted first place.

Similarly, a Robo Competition is also being organised for the first time in which over 32 groups will showcase robotics innovation and usage.

Another major attraction of the event is short helicopter rides to Dordi Corridor, Upper Marshyandi and Solu Corridor where numerous hydropower projects are in construction phase and a few of them are already in operation.

There will also be a series of technical and knowledge sharing session on domestic financing, hedging foreign currency risk, renewable energy, environment and social management, innovation in hydropower industry, tunneling, and insurance. More than 35 expert speakers will share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of the public at large.

Likewise, IPPAN is set to launch the first version of Hydro Map (a computer application) intended to serve as a hydro database for all stakeholders which is jointly developed by IPPAN, Niti Foundation, and The Asia Foundation.

The exhibition is being organised by IPPAN and Event Management Service. National Planning Commission and Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation are supporting the event.

It is co-sponsored by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a private sector wing of the World Bank Group.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 January 2018.