Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Kulman Ghising held a courtesy meeting with South Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae-young at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation in Singha Durbar.

During the meeting, Ambassador Park congratulated Minister Ghising on his appointment and extended best wishes for a successful tenure. Highlighting the long-standing cooperation between Nepal and South Korea in economic assistance, Minister Ghising emphasized that Nepal requires large reservoir-based hydropower projects - each exceeding 500 megawatts - to maintain energy balance and expand electricity exports. He also called for government-to-government partnerships or investments by Korean private companies in such projects.

Minister Ghising also requested Korea’s support in developing a pilot project on green hydrogen production - a sector where Korea has seen notable success and Nepal has immense potential. He proposed that the project could be linked to fertilizer production and the operation of public transport.

Minister Ghising appealed to increase the employment quota for Nepali workers under South Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS) and assist in skill development training before departure as well as in promoting entrepreneurship and job creation upon their return by utilizing the skills gained in Korea.

He also sought Korea’s cooperation in expediting assistance from the Korean Export-Import (EXIM) Bank for the 400 kV Inaruwa-Anarmani transmission line connecting the Arun River Corridor with the East-West transmission network. He requested support in enhancing Nepal’s capacity for railway construction, operation, and maintenance as well.

Ambassador Park, meanwhile, briefed Minister Ghising on the progress of the 216-megawatt Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa, which is being developed primarily with investment from a South Korean government-owned company.

He further mentioned that Korea is planning to organize a seminar in Nepal in collaboration with private-sector energy producers to attract more Korean companies to the country’s energy sector. Ambassador Park also said that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Finance regarding Korea’s assistance in transmission line construction.