Editing Economy of Nepal (section)

==Resources==
[[File:Tourists trekking in Annapurna region.jpg|thumb|right|Tourists trekking in [[Annapurna]] region in western [[Nepal]]. Tourism plays a vital role in Nepal's economy.]]
Progress has been made in exploiting Nepal's natural resources, [[tourism]], and [[hydroelectricity]]. With eight of the world's 10 highest mountain peaks, including [[Mount Everest]] at 8,848.86 m. In the early 1990s, one large public sector project and a number of private projects were planned; some have been completed. The most significant private sector financed hydroelectric projects currently in operation are the [[Khimti Khola]] (60 MW) and the [[Bhote Koshi Project]] (36 MW). The project is still undergoing and has dependency on China, India and Japan to take the further steps.
[[File:माथिल्लो तामाकोशी निर्माणस्थल.png|alt=Upper Tamakoshi hydropower, biggest hydropower in Nepal.|thumb|Upper Tamakoshi hydropower, biggest hydropower in Nepal.]]
[[File:Kulekhani dam8.jpg|thumb|Kulekhani dam also known as "Indra sarobar"or "[[Kulekhani Reservoir]]" combinely producing 106 MW, in Makwanpur, Nepal]]
[[File:Kaligandaki A HPS Tailrace Channel.jpg| thumb|upright| [[Middle Marsyangdi Hydropower Station]], producing 70 MW. Nepal has significant potential to generate [[hydropower]], which it plans to export across South Asia.]]
Nepal has 83,000 MW of theoretical and 42,133 MW of technically/financially viable hydroelectric potential, however the total installed capacity, at present, is 2500 MW and increasing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nepal's Electricity|date=8 August 2024 |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/nepal-s-electricity-production-capacity-reaches-more-than-2-577-mw/}}</ref>

The environmental impact of Nepal's hydroelectric Own calendar (Bikram Sambat) New year in mid- April projects has been limited by the fact that most are "[[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]]" with only one storage project undertaken to date. The largest hydroelectric plant under consideration is the [[West Seti Dam]] (750 MW) storage project dedicated to exports to be built by the private sector. Negotiations with India for a [[power purchase agreement]] have been underway for several years, but agreement on pricing and financing remains a problem. Currently demand for electricity is increasing at 8-10% a year whereas Nepal's option to have agreement with India will make this fulfilment against demand. As of June 2022  surplus electricity up to 364 MWp by Nepal is exported to India.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nepal starts exporting surplus electricity to India|date=2 June 2022 |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nea-export-surplus-electricity-india.html|publisher=english.onlinekhabar.com|access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref>

Population pressure on natural resources is increasing. Over-population is already straining the "carrying capacity" of the middle hill areas, particularly the Kathmandu Valley, resulting in the depletion of forest cover for crops, fuel, and fodder and contributing to erosion and flooding. Although steep mountain terrain makes exploitation difficult, [[mineral]] surveys have found small deposits of [[limestone]], [[magnesite]], [[zinc]], [[copper]], [[iron]], [[mica]], [[lead]], and [[cobalt]]. [[Coal mining in Nepal|Coal mining]] is also done with 11522 tones produced in 2018 alone.

The development of hydroelectric power projects also cause some tension with local indigenous groups, recently{{when|date=February 2011}} empowered by Nepal's ratification of [[ILO 169|ILO Convention 169]].<ref>[http://blog.nibrinternational.no/#post13 Jones, Peris: When the lights go out. Hydroelectric power and indigenous rights in Nepal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430042505/http://blog.nibrinternational.no/ |date=30 April 2011 }}. ''NIBR International Blog 11.03.10''</ref>