Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 10:

Independent power producers have criticised the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the government-owned electricity distribution and generation organisation, for failing to boost micro-hydro projects through power purchase and connecting small hydropower plants’ capacity to the national grid. Sridhar Devkota, project manager of Small Hydropower Promotion Project (SHPP)/GTZ stressed on the need to support micro-hydro projects by NEA for connecting their electricity output to the national grid, so that they will be encouraged and do more for effective socio-economic development. Devkota hoped that we could also go for a regional grid for connecting electricity produced by micro-hydro projects scattered in different districts. As per the law, NEA has to purchase electricity generated by micro-hydro projects. However, it is not able to do so completely which may discourage small power producers, Devkota said. Prakash Jung Rana, GM of NEA, agreed that NEA has to purchase electricity from micro-hydro power producers but there is a need to do a cost-benefit analysis. “There will be a huge financial burden on NEA if it purchases power from small power projects during off times,” he said.

Bikash Pandey, country representative of Winrock International, Nepal commented that there is a need to further analyse the possibility of enhancing power generation and its sustainability as it will be beneficial for people in their respective locations. Rana also presented a paper and stressed on the importance of micro-hydro projects in Nepal. “For running micro-hydro projects, proven technologies are available at the local level and electricity will be consumed accordingly. Micro-hydro projects also do not need huge investment, and they help improve the living standard of people,” Rana said.

Bir Bahadur Ghale, chairman of Federation of Micro-Hydro Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (FMHEAN) said that out of the total 80 per cent people living in rural areas, only seven per cent have access to electricity, which is a sad scenario. He asked NEA for making the grid connection more effective and workable for promoting small and micro-hydro power producers. Pramod Timilsina, an engineer said that interconnection of micro-small hydropower plant is possible at 400 volts level. He said that it was necessary for micro-hydro developers to use quality products and equipment (at marginal additional cost) if the intention is to grid connect in the future. Girish Kharel of Small Hydropower Promotion Project (SHPP) opined that the grid connection to micro-small hydropower plans would help reduce distribution losses, reduced time of planning and installation. Moreover, it will help improve reliability, service delivery level and quality, he commented.