Power trade, transmission capacity in govt priority

Kathmandu: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, held a news conference on Wednesday and made public 137-point achievements of his first six months in office.

A bill on renewable energy and energy efficiency was registered in the House of Representatives. Policies on electricity and energy development were prepared and suggestions sought from the stakeholders.

The Ministry also registered a bill related to water resources at the Council of Ministers. Minister Shrestha informed media that production of electricity, transmission, market expansion and increase in internal consumption were taken forward in an integrated manner so that energy sector could be established as a basis of economic development in the country.

Irrespective of damage to energy infrastructures in the recent disasters, service restoration and construction works were given continuity. According to the Minister, scientific and objective criteria were set to advance the process of power purchase agreement in line with national needs and the demands of electricity system.

Across the country, there are 27 hydropower projects in the final stage of construction, which will have total production capacity of 540.47 MW. Minister Shrestha further said Nepal and India had agreed to increase the electricity supply from 1,000 MW to 1,400 MW for import and from 1,100 MW to 1,650 MW for export.

The government has forwarded the reinforcement of power trade through the expansion of cross-border transmission infrastructures, open access and transparent determination of transmission tariff.

Construction works in the Hetauda section under the Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa transmission line (400 KV) has reached its final stage.

Similarly, the construction of the Bahrabise-Lapsephedi transmission line (400 kV) has been over. The Barhabise and New Khimti substations have been completed and come into partial operation. Real-time monitoring of water flow in the Rani Jamara Kulariya and Rajapur irrigation systems has begun through telemetry technology to improve the management of irrigation system.

Other works shared by Minister as achievements are launch of Electricity Consumer Tariff Determination Directive, 2083; the Transmission Tariff Calculation Criteria of the National Electricity Transmission Grid, 2083; and preparation to amend the Electricity Regulations, 2050.

RSS