KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 17
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has announced that industrial consumers will face evening power cuts until the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, damaged by floods and landslides on September 27 and 28, resumes operation.
NEA Managing Director Kul Man Ghising stated that managing power supply during winter has become challenging due to the shutdown of the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Project, the largest hydropower plant connected to the National Transmission Grid.
He explained that power cuts to industrial customers occur primarily during peak evening hours when electricity demand surges.
While the industrial sector will experience partial power cuts, NEA assured continued supply for other consumers. It clarified that reduced water levels in rivers during winter decrease the production capacity of run-of-the-river hydropower projects to one-third, and NEA's inability to import sufficient power from India during peak hours has exacerbated the situation.
Repair and maintenance of the Upper Tamakoshi Project are underway, with power generation expected to resume by December 25.
NEA further reported that the Central Electricity Authority of India has permitted Nepal to import up to 654 MW of power daily until March 15, 2025-600 MW via the 400 kV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur Cross-border Transmission Line and 54 MW through the 132 kV Tanakpur-Mahendranagar Transmission Line.
However, the agreement restricts electricity imports during peak hours from 5 PM to 9 PM.