How Kulman Ghising Ended Load Shedding, Transformed the Power Sector, and Rose to Become Minister of Energy of Nepal ?
Kulman Ghising, frequently recognized as the “national hero of Nepal’s energy sector,” is the reformist engineer who ended decades of outages and transformed the country’s energy sector. He was born on November 25, 1970, to a humble rural family in Bethan, Ramechhap district, Nepal. Ghising, as the face of the electricity revolution in Nepal, has risen from a village boy in the country, quite literally experiencing the darkness of outages, to leadership where he has brought light to an entire country. Because of this remarkable journey in modern Nepal’s history, he has become one of the most popular figures.
Early Life and Education of Kulman Ghising
Having grown up in rural Nepal, Ghising directly experienced the effects of what life is like without dependable electricity. This experience inspired him to fight to develop the power sector. He completed early schooling in Ramechhap and Kathmandu, and continued on to receive his engineering higher education. In 1993, he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the Regional Institute of Technology (RIT) in Jamshedpur, India. Soon thereafter, he went on to complete a Master’s in Power System Engineering from Pulchowk Campus, Tribhuvan University, and then further developed his leadership capacity by getting an MBA from Pokhara University. This academic education prepared him well for the difficult future tests that he would encounter in Nepal’s energy sector.
Professional Journey and Entry into the Nepal Electricity Authority
Kulman Ghising started his career as an engineer at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in 1994. In the beginning of his career, he performed work in hydropower plants, distribution systems, and project management. It was his combination of technical skills, commitment, and leadership that helped him rise through the ranks. He served as Managing Director of Chilime Hydropower Company Limited, as well as project chief of several major hydropower projects, which provided him with experience in understanding Nepal’s challenges in energy generation and distribution.
The Turning Point - Ending Load Shedding in Nepal
Ghising reached the pinnacle of his professional journey after his appointment as Managing Director of NEA in September 2016. Nepal faced an unprecedented energy shortage during this period because people had to face daily power outages that lasted for 16 to 18 hours. The energy crisis resulted in business failures and industrial dependence on diesel generators while both urban and rural Nepali populations experienced worsening quality of life.
The reforms Ghising implemented were revolutionary. He stopped the practice which gave continuous power to select industries at the expense of ordinary customers thus establishing equal power distribution across all consumers. Through better operational management and theft reduction and improved water storage management in hydropower plants he achieved optimal nationwide energy delivery. Through his leadership he developed stronger India power trade relations and started educational campaigns which taught people about peak hour electricity usage.
Within his first few months of leadership Ghising managed to end load shedding in Kathmandu Valley. The whole nation achieved a state of almost total load-shedding elimination by 2017. This remarkable accomplishment brought a complete change to NEA’s public image while it also rebuilt public trust in the power sector of Nepal.
Legacy, Challenges, and Public Support
Ghising implemented various reforms which eliminated power outages while restoring financial stability to the NEA after years of operating at a loss. The organization achieved profitability under his leadership while expanding its project portfolio and attracting new investment funds. His popularity skyrocketed, and he was celebrated nationwide as a savior of the energy sector.The public showed intense anger because they supported his leadership but he lost his position during the 2020 election.
The public maintained their demand for his leadership so in August 2021 he received a second appointment as NEA Managing Director. The political interference in technical institutions became a subject of intense public discussion because he left his position before his term ended in March 2025.
From Engineer to Minister - Kulman Ghising’s Entry into Politics
In September 2025 Kulman Ghising shocked the public by joining Nepal’s temporary government which thrust him into the political arena. He assumed the positions of Minister of Energy and Water Resources and Irrigation and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Minister of Urban Development. Ghising took control of these essential portfolios to return to his previous domain where he had shown his ability to create change. The Energy Minister also serves as the head of MCA-Nepal which operates the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact for major infrastructure and energy development.
Vision and Contribution to Nepal’s Development
Kulman Ghising follows a leadership approach which centers on achieving results through equal treatment and long-term operational success. The author supports institutional development over personal involvement because it maintains reform progress during leadership changes. The story shows how a single dedicated technocrat who possessed knowledge and vision and courage managed to transform the fate of his entire nation.
Today, Ghising stands as a symbol of hope and resilience in Nepal.His work to stop load shedding established a permanent record in national history because he now serves as minister to direct infrastructure and energy development in the country.
Why Kulman Ghising is Nepal’s National Hero?
Kulman Ghising functions as an engineer while leading as a reformer and establishing himself as a change icon. The end of load shedding through his success brought better daily life to millions of Nepalis while creating economic expansion and restoring public trust in government institutions. His journey from his rural background in Ramechhap to reach the Minister of Energy position demonstrates his determination and ability to lead with foresight. For this reason, he is rightly celebrated as the national hero of Nepal’s power sector and continues to inspire future generations.
