KATHMANDU, AUGUST 17
Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that the improvement of the energy sector is crucial for the country's development.
Speaking during the 37th anniversary of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) here today, Minister Bhusal said the infrastructure related to energy sector should be made robust.
"The country has increased its energy output by over 700MW in the last year and has projected a similar growth in this fiscal year as well. Keeping in mind the electricity leakage during the monsoon season, there is a need to move ahead with the work of effectively increasing the use of electric energy in the country," she said.
She further said that the NEA and the ministry of energy will only purchase electric vehicles from now onwards and improve infrastructure related to charging stations in various places to increase and promote electricity consumption.
"The government, in coordination with concerned bodies, has also introduced various programmes for this cause," she added.
Minister Bhusal also laid emphasis on fulfilling Nepal's commitments made at COP26 held in Glasgow to reach net zero emissions by 2045 and create green jobs, etcetera.
Addressing the event, NEA's Managing Director Kulman Ghising said that the authority will keep on working sincerely to further improve its profits in the coming years.
"We have increased our energy production by 735 MW in the last fiscal year. With this, the NEA's mission to increase energy consumption and export energy to neighbouring countries has been realised. The authority was able to export 400 MW of electricity to India on a daily basis which has helped bring a positive change in the NEA's finances as well as helped to bring in foreign currency, directly supporting the country's economy.
For the first time since its operation, NEA was able to make a profit of Rs 16.16 billion in the last fiscal year," Ghising said, adding that 93 per cent of the population is now connected to the national grid compared to 62 per cent six years ago. "So far, 42 districts across the country have been electrified completely."
Furthermore, laying emphasis on the goals of the authority, Ghising shared that the NEA is trying to make the country dependent on electric energy and export excess amount to neighbouring countries to strengthen the economy for which it has prioritised construction of hydropower projects including the 635MW Dudhkoshi, 1061MW Upper Arun, 210MW Chainpur Seti, 99MW, Tamakoshi-5, and 60MW Upper and Lower Modi.
Moreover, the NEA is planning to promote use of electric vehicles, and bring into operation the 132KV transmission line built for exchanging energy between Nepal and Bihar of India, among others.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 18, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
