Proprietary data
Data Center Power & Policy in Nepal
Every government action on data centers and power in Nepal that we have verified: moratoriums, grid rules, incentives, tariffs and plans, with the power indicators that drive site selection.
By Amit Jain
Reviewed by Deepti Agrawal
Updated 10 October 2026
In short
As of 10 October 2026, DC Market Insights tracks 11 government actions on data centers and power in Nepal, 4 of them in force. We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Nepal.
Market snapshot
Nepal power and policy: key facts
- Latest change: Policy and programme FY 2083/84: digital parks and high-capacity data centres (Government of Nepal (policy and programme presented by the President), 12 May 2026).
- By type: 4 plan or strategy, 3 other, 3 regulation and 1 incentive.
Power indicators for Nepal
Latest official figure for each indicator, with earlier years where we have them.
In force now in Nepal
Regulation (3)
DoIT notice calling data centre and cloud service providers to be listed
Under the Data Centre and Cloud Service (Operation and Management) Directive, 2081, the Department of Information Technology issued a notice asking data centre and cloud service providers to apply for listing, with separate application formats for data centre providers and cloud providers. The notice is dated 20 Mangsir 2082 BS (6 December 2025).
Data Centre and Cloud Service (Operation and Management) Directive, 2081
The Department of Information Technology publishes the Data Centre and Cloud Service (Operation and Management) Directive, 2081 (डाटा सेन्टर तथा क्लाउड सेवा (सञ्चालन तथा व्यवस्थापन) निर्देशिका, २०८१) on its official site. The directive governs the operation and management of data centre and cloud service providers in Nepal.
Nepal Rastra Bank IT Guidelines 2012: bank data centre and DR site requirements
Nepal Rastra Bank's Information Technology Guidelines (2012) require banks to design IT systems and data centres for fault tolerance, provide adequate physical and environmental controls in the data centre, and periodically check transaction and data integrity between the data centre and the DR site. NRB reserves the right to inspect banks' data centres.
Other (1)
Hetauda Disaster Recovery Center for the Government Integrated Data Center, supported by Korea
The Korean government, through KOICA, supported the establishment of Nepal's Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC) in 2009 and the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Hetauda, to reduce the loss of public data and disruption of government operations in a natural disaster. The Korean Embassy and Nepal's National Information Technology Center discussed the DRC's status and future operations.
Announced and proposed
Measures that are not yet in force. Status changes when the rule takes effect or is withdrawn.
Policy and programme FY 2083/84: digital parks and high-capacity data centres
The Government of Nepal's policy and programme for FY 2083/84, presented by the President to a joint sitting of parliament, commits to developing digital parks, high-capacity data centres and public digital infrastructure to make Nepal a tech hub (paragraph 11, per a reproduction of the full text).
Lalitpur Metropolitan City approves Ncell data centre in Nakhhu
Lalitpur Metropolitan City approved Ncell's data centre project in Nakhhu, ward 4, despite opposition from an adjoining neighbour whose consent is needed for nearby construction. The report says the Department of Information Technology enlisted the facility as the country's first certified data centre under the 2025 directives, and that the Ministry of Forests and Environment is revising its regulations to include such projects.
National AI Policy 2025: data centres in cold Himalayan regions
The Cabinet approved the National AI Policy, 2025 at a Monday meeting, as reported by The Kathmandu Post on 16 August 2025. On infrastructure, the policy guides the opening of data centres that use the cold temperatures of Himalayan regions, and says international-level data centres and cloud infrastructure will be built to facilitate AI initiatives.
Budget FY 2025/26: operate the Kohalpur Data Center, expand Hetauda Disaster Recovery Center, upgrade Integrated Data Management Center
Paragraph 128 of the Budget Speech for FY 2025/26 says the Integrated Data Management Center will be upgraded, the capacity of the Hetauda Disaster Recovery Center will be increased, and the under-construction Data Center in Kohalpur will be brought into operation.
Budget FY 2025/26: land, uninterrupted power and security for data centre companies; Mid-Hill data centre feasibility study
Paragraph 127 of the Budget Speech for FY 2025/26 (2082/83) says the government will partner with the private sector to build, operate and develop data centres, study the feasibility of a data centre in the Mid-Hill region, and provide land, uninterrupted power supply and security to domestic and foreign companies that want to set up data centres.
Budget FY 2024/25: upgrade government data centres and set standards for private data centres
According to Nepalitelecom's summary of the FY 2024/25 (2081/82) budget speech, government data centres will be upgraded and standards will be set for data centres operated by the private sector.
Cabinet abolishes IT Development Committee; Integrated Data Management Centre placed under the Department of IT
A Cabinet meeting on 20 Baisakh 2081 decided to abolish the Information Technology Development Committee from 1 Shrawan 2081 (16 July 2024). The Integrated Data Management Centre (formerly the National IT Centre) is to run under the Department of Information Technology, and the Government Integrated Data Center's systems and infrastructure are to be handed over to it.
Timeline of data center and power policy in Nepal
| Date | Action | Type | Status | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 May 2026 | Policy and programme FY 2083/84: digital parks and high-capacity data centres | Plan or strategy | Announced | Government of Nepal (policy and programme presented by the President) |
| 27 Apr 2026 | Lalitpur Metropolitan City approves Ncell data centre in Nakhhu Bagmati Province | Other | Announced | Lalitpur Metropolitan City |
| 6 Dec 2025 | DoIT notice calling data centre and cloud service providers to be listed | Regulation | In force | Department of Information Technology |
| 11 Aug 2025 | National AI Policy 2025: data centres in cold Himalayan regions | Plan or strategy | Announced | Council of Ministers; Ministry of Communication and Information Technology |
| 29 May 2025 | Budget FY 2025/26: operate the Kohalpur Data Center, expand Hetauda Disaster Recovery Center, upgrade Integrated Data Management Center | Plan or strategy | Announced | Ministry of Finance, Government of Nepal |
| 29 May 2025 | Budget FY 2025/26: land, uninterrupted power and security for data centre companies; Mid-Hill data centre feasibility study | Incentive | Announced | Ministry of Finance, Government of Nepal |
| 24 Mar 2025 | Data Centre and Cloud Service (Operation and Management) Directive, 2081 | Regulation | In force | Ministry of Communication and Information Technology; Department of Information Technology |
| 28 May 2024 | Budget FY 2024/25: upgrade government data centres and set standards for private data centres | Plan or strategy | Announced | Ministry of Finance, Government of Nepal |
| 2 May 2024 | Cabinet abolishes IT Development Committee; Integrated Data Management Centre placed under the Department of IT | Other | Announced | Council of Ministers; Ministry of Communication and Information Technology |
| 25 Jul 2022 | Hetauda Disaster Recovery Center for the Government Integrated Data Center, supported by Korea Bagmati Province | Other | In force | National Information Technology Center, Government of Nepal (with KOICA) |
| 1 Aug 2012 | Nepal Rastra Bank IT Guidelines 2012: bank data centre and DR site requirements | Regulation | In force | Nepal Rastra Bank |
How Nepal compares
Latest official figures for the countries we track.
| Country | Industrial power price | Renewable share | Grid emission factor | Restrictions in force | Incentives in force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | — | 39% (2025) | — | 0 | 2 |
| Bangladesh | — | 2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| France | 104 USD/MWh (2025) | 27% (2025) | 0.02 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Germany | 180 USD/MWh (2025) | 58.8% (2025) | 0.34 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 1 | 0 |
| India | 82.1 USD/MWh (2025) | 28.7% (2026) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 5 |
| Indonesia | 62.9 USD/MWh (2024) | 16.3% (2025) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 234 USD/MWh (2025) | 41.3% (2024) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 2 | 0 |
| Japan | — | 23.1% (2024) | 0.45 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Kazakhstan | — | 14.6% (2025) | 0.81 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysia | 105 USD/MWh (2026) | 21% (2025) | 0.74 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 1 |
| Nepal | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 148 USD/MWh (2025) | 49% (2025) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 4 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 97.5 USD/MWh (2026) | 34.7% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Singapore | 189 USD/MWh (2025) | 2.1% (2024) | 0.40 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| South Korea | — | 9.8% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | — | 60.2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 120 USD/MWh (2026) | 8.8% (2024) | 0.47 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| United Kingdom | 234 USD/MWh (2026) | 52.1% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2026) | 1 | 1 |
| United States | 86.2 USD/MWh (2025) | 24% (2025) | 0.35 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 83.3 USD/MWh (2026) | 19.4% (2025) | — | 1 | 0 |
Questions
Is there a data center moratorium in Nepal?
We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Nepal as of 10 October 2026. Proposed or announced measures, if any, are listed in the timeline.
Where does this data come from?
Each action comes from a page we opened: a law, regulation, gazette notice, ministry or regulator release, grid operator notice or investment agency page, and only when official text is not available a company or trade publication. A second analyst re-opens the source before an item is published. Government sources are linked on the page; all sources come with the Excel data.
What counts as a restriction or moratorium?
A government or grid operator rule that stops, pauses, caps or conditions new data center capacity or grid connections, for a country or a region within it. Proposals are shown as proposed until they take effect.
How are power prices compared?
We use each country’s official statistics for industrial or non-household electricity, converted to US dollars per MWh at the average rate for the year where needed, and show the year and source. Contract prices for data centers can differ.
How often is it updated?
Countries are reviewed on a rolling schedule and changes are added as they are announced. Each item shows the date of the action.
Choosing a market or a site?
Our analysts prepare country briefings on power, grid access, incentives and permits, with every source, in Excel.