KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 5
The 132 kV Butwal-Lumbini double circuit transmission line, built for reliable and smooth power supply, increasing transmission capacity up to 200 MW and controlling power leakage in Bhairahawa area of Rupandehi, has been brought into operation from today.
The Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal inaugurated the transmission line and the Mainahiya substation, which was built with joint investment of the government and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
Addressing the inaugural programme, Minister Bhusal said that the government is focusing on a self-sufficient economy with export of surplus power in the international market.
"We're working on expanding electricity access to those areas that are still not connected to the national grid within two years and construct modern transmission lines and substations for reliable and smooth power supply," she said.
"Along with this, mega projects like the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project will be constructed soon."
Bhusal further said that the government is also working on increasing domestic power consumption by promoting electric vehicles, induction cookers, supplying as much power as required to industries, among others.
Kulman Ghising, managing director of the NEA, said that with the new transmission line coming into operation, power supply to industries based in Bhairahawa areas will be smoother.
Stating that there was a problem in the past when only Butwal substation was supplying electricity, Ghising said that the area has not been turned into an electricity hub with the improvement of power distribution system.
"Firstly, we ended load-shedding in the country. Now, our only priority is to improve reliability and quality in power distribution and smooth supply to industries, and increase domestic power consumption. Moreover, we are now trading surplus power worth nearly Rs 100 million on a daily basis."
The initial work of the transmission line project was started in the fiscal year 2013-14. However, the project saw some delays due to route changes, the devastating earthquakes of 2015, COVID-19, among other reasons.
The estimated cost of the project is $9.5 million.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 6, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
