Hydropower IPO Delays Frustrate Private Sector: IPPAN President

Ganesh Karki, President of the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), has said that the private sector is being pushed toward protest due to delays in the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process for hydropower companies.

Speaking at IPPAN's 23rd Annual General Meeting, Karki stressed that IPOs are an important way to raise capital for hydropower projects. However, he accused the government and regulatory bodies of showing little interest in simplifying the process. He said many companies eager to move forward with their projects have been waiting a long time for IPO approvals, and delays in permissions have negatively affected project development.

Karki pointed out that a lack of coordination between the Securities Board and the Ministry of Energy has sent a discouraging message to the energy sector. He added that complicated policies and bureaucratic delays are demotivating private investors.

He emphasized the need to ease IPO issuance so that ordinary citizens can invest in hydropower and the country can move towards energy self-sufficiency. If the current situation continues, he warned, the private sector may be forced to launch protests. He also called for policy and legal reforms to create a more investment-friendly environment.