In a major step toward accelerating energy development in India’s eastern frontier, the Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA) today inaugurated the North-East Power Conclave 2025 in Guwahati. As the first-ever event of its kind in the region, the conclave hosted F. Rodingliana, Hon’ble Minister, Power & Electricity Department, K.G. Kenye, Hon’ble Minister, Department of Power, Government of Nagaland and State Power Secretaries from Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura. The event attracted over 500 delegates and featured the presence of senior government officials, utilities, and industry leaders from all eight North Eastern states. The two-day conclave aims to foster regional collaboration, accelerate infrastructure investments, and address the unique opportunities and challenges faced by the North-East in its energy journey. From sustainable generation to smart transmission and last-mile connectivity, the agenda reflects a holistic approach to regional transformation. Speaking at the inaugural, Mr. K.G. Kenye, Hon’ble Minister, Department of Power, Government of Nagaland, called for increased industry attention to the region:
IEEMA has been a partner to this country. You might have concentrated on the mainland for far too long—this could be your first big visit to this region. With all your expertise, experience, and infrastructure, the Vision of 2047 for a Vikshit Bharat is actually meant for my state, Nagaland—a state with a huge energy deficit and growing demand. From Mizoram, Mr. F. Rodingliana, Hon’ble Minister, Power & Electricity Department, highlighted the urgent need to revive small hydropower initiatives: “We are very thankful to IEEMA. In my state, it is a remote area. One thing about Mizoram these days is that there is a lot of potential—especially in hydropower. We have a river capacity of 3,600 megawatts, but the rivers are not conducive to power generation. We are generating below 100 megawatts, while our peak demand is about 60 to 100 megawatts. So, we have a lot of work to do. Now, we are targeting three rivers. There is one scheme by MNRE for small hydro-projects which has stopped over the last five years. This scheme is very important for our state, but the budget for power is very low. I have also asked the Centre to revive the scheme.”
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Sunil Singhvi, President, IEEMA, highlighted the region’s critical role in the national renewable energy roadmap: Actually, the Northeast is the gateway for the energy transition—it’s not only the gateway to Southeast Asia. The region has huge potential, with approximately 58,000 megawatts of hydro capacity, which is critical for meeting our renewable energy targets. Mr. Siddharth Bhutoria, Vice President, IEEMA, reflected on the larger vision behind the conclave: This Conclave is about more than power, it’s about empowerment. The North-East is ready to take its place in the national energy narrative, and we at IEEMA are committed to enabling this journey through policy dialogue, industrial collaboration, and capacity building. The event continued with technical sessions featuring representatives from Power Grid, REC, PFC, CEA, and NEEPCO, among others, who discussed opportunities in grid integration, next-gen transmission, and financing models for upcoming regional projects. The conclave also featured buyer seller meet on the sidelines giving participating companies an opportunity to forge profitable business partnership to drive growth.
