Kathmandu, 7 October – Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management, and Urban Development Kulman Ghising has inspected the Load Dispatch Centre under the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
Minister Ghising visited the centre in Syuchatar, Kathmandu, on Monday evening and obtained information on the status of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution systems across the country, grid operation, electricity demand and supply management, electricity exports, and power projects affected by floods and landslides.
Stating that complaints about intermittent power outages have been received from various parts of the country, Minister Ghising, who is also the former Managing Director of the NEA, discussed the necessary policy and technological reforms to be implemented in the short, medium, and long term to make the electricity system more reliable, efficient, safe, and modern.
Emphasizing that structures damaged by floods and landslides should be repaired and electricity services restored immediately, Ghising directed subordinate offices to give high priority to addressing complaints of intermittent power outages and to maintain readiness accordingly. He urged NEA management to operate powerhouses, transmission lines, and substations at full capacity, to focus on completing the Marsyangdi Corridor 220 kV and Hetauda–Dhalkebar 400 kV transmission lines, which are crucial for electricity supply, and to make necessary preparations for electricity management during the upcoming winter season.
NEA Managing Director Manoj Silwal and Centre Director Chandan Kumar Ghosh briefed the minister on the current situation and challenges related to electricity generation, demand, supply, export, and system operation. Managing Director Silwal said that teams are on standby to repair infrastructure damaged by floods and landslides and to promptly restore electricity services.
Daily Export of 1,000 Megawatts; Earnings of NPR 15 Billion
Managing Director Silwal informed that an average of 1,000 megawatts of surplus electricity is being exported daily. Since July/August of the current fiscal year 2024/25, electricity worth about NPR 15 billion has been exported.
The power is being sold in the Indian Power Exchange (IEX) at competitive rates in the day-ahead and real-time markets, as well as under bilateral medium-term power sale agreements with the Indian states of Haryana and Bihar. Additionally, 40 MW of electricity is being exported to Bangladesh daily using India’s transmission infrastructure.
Electricity trade with India is conducted in Indian Rupees (INR) and with Bangladesh in US Dollars (USD). Thus, the sale of electricity is generating revenue in both currencies. The authority has received approval to export 1,165 megawatts of electricity to India and Bangladesh.
