KATHMANDU, AUGUST 27
In the past nine years, Nepal has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its electricity transmission system, with the addition of 3,118 kilometres of circuit transmission lines.
This expansion comes as a significant milestone following the end of load-shedding, with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) leading the charge in electrification efforts to provide sufficient, reliable, quality, and safe electricity to consumers.
Under the guidance of the NEA, transmission lines and substation projects are being developed through the Directorate of Transmission and Project Management.
Over this nine-year period, the capacity of grid substations has surged from 2,132 MVA in the financial year 2014-15 to 6,735 MVA in fiscal year 2022-23.
In fiscal year 2014-15, only 66 and 132 kV power lines were operational.
However, today, the system includes 66, 132, 220, and 400 kV lines, showcasing the substantial growth in the nation's electricity infrastructure.
The expansion is also evident in the length of transmission lines.
Nine years ago, there were 2,624 circuit kilometres of power lines, and it had expanded to 5,742 circuit kilometres in the last fiscal year. The system has evolved from primarily 66 and 132 kV transmission lines in 2014-15 to a diverse mix, with 66 kV lines spanning 514 circuit kilometres and 132 kV lines covering 3,979 circuit kilometres.
Kulman Ghising, managing director of NEA, emphasised that the improvement in infrastructure has been carried out systematically to address consumer complaints about frequent power outages due to technical reasons.
"There have been challenges in executing transmission line projects, including local obstacles, land acquisition, and deforestation issues," Ghising said.
"These hurdles have resulted in prolonged project timelines and increased costs, ultimately impacting the price of electricity," he added.
Ghising called for urgent reforms, suggesting that the next 10 years be designated as a development decade for the country. He urged comprehensive amendments to current laws to facilitate land use in forested areas and expedite the implementation of budgeted programmes.
To meet electricity demand projections until 2050, Ghising revealed that major cities, including Kathmandu, have been divided into 11 clusters, and a master plan for transmission and substation structures has been devised. Additionally, construction work on 400, 220, and 132 kV east-west transmission lines has commenced to accommodate the expansion of industrial and urban areas in the southern Tarai/Madhesh region.
As of now, the NEA reports that 2,852 circuit kilometres of transmission lines across various capacities are under construction.
The majority of these are 132 kV transmission lines (1,111 circuit kilometres), with 220 and 400 kV lines also in progress (988 and 754 circuit kilometres, respectively).
Moreover, plans are in place to construct an additional 6,751 circuit kilometres, with 132, 220, and 400 kV transmission lines accounting for 1,141, 1,752, and 3,858 circuit kilometres, respectively.
In terms of substations, 10,469 MVA capacity substations of various sizes are under construction, and proposals for an additional 15,564 MVA capacity substations are in the pipeline.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 28, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
