Energy Minister States Focus on Transmission and Distribution System Strengthening

Kathmandu. Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has stated that the government is focusing on strengthening the transmission and distribution system rather than electricity generation. 

Responding to questions raised by MPs on the ministry's budget during the National Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Minister Shrestha said that the government is serious about solving the problem of irregular electricity supply seen in various parts of the country.

He clarified that the challenge of quality supply according to demand has increased due to old and dilapidated electrical structures. He admitted that the problem of tripping has arisen because decades-old structures cannot bear the load despite the increasing demand for electricity. 

He stated that the state needs to invest heavily for its long-term solution, and the internal resources of the Nepal Electricity Authority are not sufficient. He informed that the 1151 and 1150 hotlines for listening to public complaints are in operation 24 hours a day, and 18,300 complaints have been addressed in the last three months.

Minister Shrestha said that the government has adopted a policy of liberalization in energy trade for the first time. According to the new legal provisions, the private sector will now be able to trade electricity in national and international markets. The ministry believes that the provision allowing private investment in transmission line construction and trading by paying 'wheeling charge' will add a new dimension to the energy market. 

"Now is the time to prioritize consumption, not just electricity generation, and focus on exports," said Minister Shrestha. "We have a clear policy to export surplus electricity during the monsoon to the regional market through intercontinental transmission lines."

The government aims to complete the construction of a total of 12 transmission lines, including 9 lines of 132 KV and 2 lines of 220 KV, within the next fiscal year. A sum of 46.25 billion rupees has been allocated solely for the improvement of transmission lines and distribution. 

It is projected that a total of 1040 megawatts of electricity, including 670 megawatts from hydropower and 370 megawatts from solar energy, will be added to the national grid next year. With this, Nepal's total installed capacity will reach 5,535 megawatts. The government has continued its goal of generating 30,000 megawatts of electricity in the next 10 years.

Regarding irrigation, Minister Shrestha stated that sufficient budget and action plans have been prepared to complete the national pride projects of Babai, Bheri-Babai, and Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion on time. The target is to expand irrigation facilities to an additional 15,776 hectares of land next year, increasing the proportion of irrigated land to 64 percent. 1.84 billion has been allocated for underground water irrigation, including deep tubewells, in the Terai-Madhesh region. Furthermore, he informed the house that river conservation has been put forward as a national policy.