KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 7
The Nepal Yarn Manufacturers' Association (NYMA) has demanded proof of power consumption during the load-shedding hours through dedicated feeders and trunk lines before clearing their bills.
Before the country was able to rid of blackouts, general households were suffering up to 18 hours of power cuts especially during the winter months for a few years preceding 2018. Back then, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) was supplying power to industries through dedicated feeders and trunk lines. But according to the NYMA, contrary to the earlier assurances of uninterrupted power supply through the feeders and trunk lines, the industries also had to suffer blackouts during the load-shedding hours.
According to the NEA, the industrialists and businessmen have around Rs 10 billion in arrears for consuming electricity from trunk lines and dedicated feeders. The controversy has dragged on for years, with the NEA recently even advising the disgruntled industrialists to seek review through legal processes.
Organising a press meet today, the NYMA said the industrialists were ready to pay the outstanding amount if the power utility could provide proof of power consumption through the feeders and trunk lines during the load-shedding period.
NYMA has claimed its member industries have cleared all the bills for the units of energy consumed though the dedicated feeders and trunk lines as per the tariff determined by NEA.
The members of NYMA comprise Reliance Spinning Mills Pvt Ltd, Triveni Spinning Mills Pvt Ltd, Jagdamba Spinning Mills Pvt Ltd and Jay Spinning Mills Pvt Ltd.
With investment of Rs 15 billion, the total installed capacity of the industries is 70,000 metric tonnes, while the annual production hovers between 45,000 to 50,000 metric tonnes. It directly employs 8,500 and provides indirect employment to 15,000 people. With value addition of 30 to 50 per cent on the raw materials, 75 per cent of the production is exported.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 8 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
