• Industrialists propose two-day power cut • Face losses running into billions
KATHMANDU, APRIL 27
The power supply to the industrial corridors has been so erratic that large industrialists have suggested the Nepal Electricity Authority cut off power for two days if it can ensure smooth supply for the remaining five days of the week.
The umbrella body of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and industrialists of the Sunsari-Morang corridor have jointly handed over a 10-point memorandum to the NEA stating its demands and concerns over the issue.
The country's industrial sector that had been badly affected due to the coronavirus pandemic and rising bank interest rates is now grappling with unscheduled power cuts of up to 12 hours a day and voltage fluctuations that have resulted in damages to the machinery, among other hassles.
Confederation of Nepalese Industries Province 1 President Bhim Ghimire said that the industrialists were ready to shut production for two days if the NEA can ensure proper management and regular power supply for the rest of the week.
Stating that a proper supply of power is a must for the production sector, Ghimire stressed that the employment and economy of the country could be in peril if problems in the energy sector were not addressed promptly. The NEA is struggling to meet the domestic energy demands as India has decided to stop power export to Nepal for a few days following the rise of coal prices in the international market.
According to NEA Spokesperson Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai, the acute shortage of coal in India has led the southern neighbour to halt power exports for a few days and there is currently shortage of energy traders in the Indian energy exchange market.
According to him, out of the demand for 32,000 to 33,000 MW hours per day, about 12,000 MW hours of energy used to be imported from India, with the rest being fulfilled from our own resources.
"Of our target to procure 10,000 to 12,000 MW hours of energy per day from India, we have been able to purchase only about 1,500 to 2,000 MW hours at the moment," Bhattarai said.
India has notified about the cut in power supply for three days due to increase in domestic demand.
In the memorandum, industrialists have demanded an immediate release of a fixed load-shedding schedule, prompt solution to the problem of tripping and load-shedding, and that the NEA should bear the responsibility in case of any damage to industries due to power fluctuations.
It states that industrialists of Province 1 are facing losses amounting to billions of rupees due to power outages.
NEA spokesperson said the two-day power cut would let industries carry out their maintenance works. "There is no alternative to power cuts," he said, adding that the situation will likely persist for two more weeks, after which the country's power generation is expected to surge and suffice to cater to the domestic demand.
The country's households and small industries, however, will not have to face any power outage, he assured.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 28, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
