The 6th international conference on Development of Hydropower kicked off in Kathmandu Tuesday with the view to discussing and exchanging experiences on the development and extension of hydropower.

About 350 individuals concerned to the field from 25 Asian-African countries including China are participating in the conference on June 7-9 held under the joint aegis of International Association on Electricity Generation, Transmission and Distribution (Afro-Asian Region), Nepal Electricity Authority and Central Board of Irrigation and Power of India.

A total of 60 work papers on various topics like hydro policies,financial mechanism, participation of the government and private sectors, extension and distribution of electricity, environmental and legal concepts, sustainable development of hydro-power, regional hydropower trade and management of hydro projects will be presented at the three-day conference.

"The developing countries have not been able to take advantage of the new technologies of renewable energy, because of their relatively high cost, both in terms of initial investment as well as operational cost," Tulsi Giri, vice chairman of Nepali Council of Ministers, said while inaugurating the conference.

He hoped the conference will bring out concrete proposals and pragmatic and cost effective measures to accelerate development of hydropower, together with other renewable sources of energy.

Source: Xinhua