KATHMANDU, Dec 18
A total of 40 MW will be added to the national grid after completion of seven different small hydropower projects in the current fiscal year.
These private sector projects are in the final stage of construction. All of these projects are run of the river type. Lower Chakukhola constructed by Laughing Buddha Hydropower, out of the seven projects, has already started to generate 1.8 MW. Bhairabkunda constructed by Bhairabkunda Hydropower will generate 3 MW, Jirikhola by Bojini Company 2.4 MW, Radhikhola by Radhi Bidyut Company 4 MW, Jhyarikhola by Electrocom and Research Center 2 MW, Mailungkhola by Mailungkhola Hydropower 5 MW, and Mai by Sanimai Hydropower 22 MW. The total installed capacity of the national grid will reach 798 MW after completion of these projects.
The possibility of connecting the electricity generated from Mai project to the national grid is very low as the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has delayed the construction of 132 KV Kabeli Corridor Transmission Line. Promoter of the project Sanimai has stated that the project will be completed within the current fiscal year. The 10 MW generated by Sipringkhola Hydropower Project constructed by Synergy Energy is also being wasted due to delay in construction of transmission line. No project being constructed by NEA will be completed during the current fiscal year. NEA is currently constructing Chameliya, Kulekhani III, Rahughat and Trishuli 3 A projects.
Forty MW of electricity was added to the national grid after completion of eight small projects even in the last fiscal year. Bijaypur-1, Siurikhola, Lower Modi-1, Sipring, Kathmandu Drinking Water Solar Energy Center, Mid Chakukhola, Tadi and Charnawati were completed in the last fiscal year. NEA has projected the demand of electricity to rise to 1200 MW this winter. NEA has increased load-shedding to nine hours a day due to shortage of 450 MW in the national distribution system. The current demand is 1100 MW and supply is 660 MW including that imported from India. The demand of electricity rises by 8.5 percent or 80 MW a year.
NEA plans to import 240 MW of electricity from India to limit load-shedding to 12 hours a day this winter. It is already importing 180 MW out of that from different places, according to Manager of the System Operation Department of NEA Bhuwan Kumar Chhetri. He said load-shedding was increased to nine hours a day from Tuesday due to daily shortage of 3.60 million units of electricity.
NEA has done Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with 150 investors for 1982 MW until now. NEA and its subsidiary companies will produce 862 MW while the private sector will generate 445 MW of additional electricity. The government has provided generation license to 76 domestic and foreign investors for generation of 2128 MW.
Source : Baburam Khadka/Karobar Daily
