The Solar Power Producers Association Nepal (SOPPAN), led by its Chairman Dr. Sandip Shah, met with newly appointed Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital and Members of the Commission.
The meeting, SOPPAN’s first formal engagement with the new ERC leadership, featured cordial and fruitful discussions on the regulatory framework and reforms needed to strengthen Nepal’s solar power sector.
During the meeting, SOPPAN congratulated Dr. Dhital on his appointment and formally submitted a petition outlining priority reforms across four key areas: strategic policy alignment, a fair and predictable regulatory framework, grid access and system integration, and distributed and agri-PV development. Among the key proposals are removing the 10% cap on solar’s share of the national energy mix, extending generation license and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) terms to 50 years for parity with hydropower, launching the next solar PPA auction for at least 1,000 MW, and enabling Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) alongside new solar projects.
“We deeply appreciate the Chairman and the Commission’s openness to today’s discussion. Solar is uniquely positioned to strengthen dry-season supply, enhance energy security, and attract private investment into Nepal’s power system. We look forward to working closely with the ERC to build a fair, predictable, and technology-appropriate regulatory framework that allows solar to reach its full potential,” said Dr. Sandip Shah, President of SOPPAN.
The ERC Chairman and Members acknowledged the sector’s concerns and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to fostering a transparent and enabling regulatory environment for renewable energy development in Nepal.
SOPPAN stated that it looks forward to continued engagement with the ERC to advance these reforms in a constructive and practical manner, in support of a resilient and diversified national power system.
