Rivers of Caution and Promise: Opportunities in Nepal’s hydropower Boom

Keywords: Energy justice, run-of-the-river hydropower, mountain geography
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 3

Abstract

The expansion of run-of-the-river hydropower in Nepal poses a sustainability paradox. Similar to hydropower projects in mountain regions globally, local, hydropower-affected communities are often sacrificed in the rapid development of hydropower in an effort to achieve national-level sustainable development targets. In a comparative study examining the ways social and political relations were articulated between hydropower companies and project-affected communities across 12 run-of-the-river hydropower sites, it was found that social and political inequalities were often exacerbated in Nepal’s mountain river basins. Despite this trend, there are site-specific examples where local community engagement in decision-making have helped spread many benefits of hydropower locally. Lessons from three case studies offer promising pathways for hydropower development. Drawing on energy justice scholarship, this research highlights opportunities to address injustices embedded in the development of run-of-the-river hydropower resources and to help bring local communities into processes linked to national sustainable development goals and targets.