Kathmandu: The government has set a target of increasing the country’s total installed electricity generation capacity to 5,335 MW by the end of the next fiscal year.
According to the annual development program published by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, an additional 1,040 MW of hydropower generation capacity is planned to be added within one year.
The government has stated that special efforts will be made to ensure the timely completion of hydropower projects that are under construction or in their final stages. It also aims to facilitate privately developed projects so that they can be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
Expansion of electricity transmission infrastructure has also been given high priority. Under the annual program, the length of 66 kV transmission lines will be increased from 7,048 circuit kilometers to 7,808 circuit kilometers.
Similarly, 33 kV transmission lines are targeted to expand from 8,325 circuit kilometers to 8,429 circuit kilometers.
The government has also set targets of raising per capita electricity consumption to 511 kWh and limiting power leakage (system loss) to 12.03 percent in the next fiscal year. Plans are in place to add 43 MW of generation capacity from micro and small hydropower projects and 99 MW from solar energy.
Through the implementation of its policies, programs, and budget, the government aims to extend irrigation facilities to an additional 15,776 hectares of land. It also plans to construct 70 kilometers of embankments along major and medium-sized rivers and reclaim 210 hectares of land.
According to the ministry, hydropower development is expected to accelerate not only the fulfillment of national energy needs but also regional economic growth. It is anticipated to contribute to economic development, industrialization, flood control, environmental protection, and job creation.
The government has targeted the completion of 12 transmission line projects in the coming fiscal year. Once completed, these projects are expected to improve domestic electricity flow and facilitate the integration of generated power into the national transmission system.
The ministry further stated that plans to construct transmission lines passing through the central area of the Kathmandu Valley will also be implemented.
Nepal Purbadhar
