Flash floods triggered by a glacial collapse in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River have caused extensive damage to hydropower projects and transmission lines, resulting in the loss of over 431 MW of power capacity. The floods impacted 12 hydropower projects, destroyed 15 projects under construction, and damaged transmission lines, causing power disruptions in several districts.
The event raises critical questions about the coexistence of energy security infrastructure and disaster resilience in the environmentally fragile Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. The article argues that energy security must be redefined to incorporate disaster resilience, climate risk assessment, and transboundary cooperation into all planning stages.
Past catastrophic events in the HKH region, including GLOFs in Sikkim and Uttarakhand, have also caused significant damage to energy infrastructure. Studies show a 12 percent reduction in glacier area and a 9 percent decline in ice reserves in the HKH region between 1990 and 2020, exacerbating the region’s fragility.
The authors advocate for energy security and disaster resilience to be integrated, considering the carrying capacity of natural resources and the need for resilient infrastructure. Transboundary disaster diplomacy, continuous monitoring, information sharing, and early-warning systems are crucial for managing hazards that disregard political borders.
Source: Down To Earth