KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 12
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is set to construct a network of transmission and distribution system infrastructure to make electricity supply efficient and reliable in Banke's Nepalgunj and Kohalpur areas.
The authority will project the potential demand for electricity in Nepalgunj and Kohalpur and its surrounding areas by the year 2050 and build the infrastructure in a phased manner.
Based on the urbanisation and industrialisation going on in Nepalgunj and Kohalpur and the surrounding areas, it is projected that the electricity consumption of that area will reach around 800 megawatts within the year 2050.
High capacity transmission lines and substations of 400 kV, 220 kV and 132 kV will be constructed to address long-term demand and increase electricity consumption.
A high-level team of the NEA under the leadership of Managing Director Kulman Ghising visited Nepalgunj on Saturday and Sunday to obtain the information about upgrading and strengthening of the existing transmission and distribution lines and substations.
The team, which also included consultants, conducted on-site monitoring of new lines and substations to be built to address the future electricity demand, construction sites, route identification, among others.
The authority will now prepare short- and long-term plans on this basis and proceed with the construction of transmission and distribution lines and substations.
Stating that necessary works are being done for the improvement of 33 kV and 11 kV lines, MD Ghising said that the capacity of transmission lines and substations will be strengthened and expanded to solve the immediate problems faced by the consumers.
As the current transmission and distribution system is unable to provide reliable power during the summer months, the consumers in Nepalgunj area have been facing problems such as low voltage, tripping, among others.
The authority is going to construct a new substation of 132 kV in Kohalpur, and the NEA has already acquired the land for it. Currently, the proposals are being evaluated for the selection of builders.
It is planned to extend the 132 kV transmission line from the substation to the 33-11 kV substation at Nepalgunj.
Currently, another 33-11 kV substation in Nepalganj is also being expanded, which will improve the electricity supply in Nepalgunj area.
"We are studying the feasibility of the South Corridor 400-220 kV transmission line from Lamhi in Dang near the Rapti River to Banke, Mainapokhri in Bardia to Tikapur in Kailali to address the future demand of electricity in the Nepalgunj area," said Ghising.
"Also, for more electricity trade with India, we are going to build a high capacity line from Kohalpur to Nanpara in India," he added.
According to Ghising, the voltage problem this year will be less than last year as the electricity produced from Bajhang, Darchula's hydropower and Banke's solar projects will be connected to the national grid in the current financial year
"In the future, it will be possible to provide sufficient, reliable and quality electricity to the households and industries in this area, and the infrastructure will also be prepared to export the excess electricity," he informed.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 13, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
