Government Prioritizes Electricity Infrastructure Expansion to Boost Consumption

Kathmandu. The government has stated that it is making policy and technical preparations to increase electricity consumption. According to the Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, the government has given high priority to the expansion and upgrading of electricity infrastructure in the policy and program and budget of the current fiscal year. The specific objective of this is to build the necessary infrastructure for increasing electricity consumption.

The goal is to gradually displace Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) used for cooking and increase the use of electric vehicles, with a focus on expanding electricity infrastructure.

An investment of Rs 80 billion is being made for the construction of electricity infrastructure. Minister Shrestha stated that the ministry is continuously working with a focus on reliable transmission, distribution, increasing domestic consumption, and energy trade.

“The lifestyle of the citizens has changed. Industries and businesses have expanded. The use of electrical appliances has increased across the country. The demand for electricity is increasing rapidly. In line with the policy of modernizing old and low-capacity transmission and distribution infrastructure, upgrading transformers, and using the latest technology in the transmission system, the ministry has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority,” he said.

Meanwhile, the authority has stated that it has been investing in the upgrading of transmission and distribution systems from its own resources. Work has begun with the goal of completing 12 priority transmission lines within the current fiscal year.

By the end of the current fiscal year, the total length of transmission lines of 66 kV or above will reach seven thousand 848 circuit kilometers.

Currently, per capita annual electricity consumption is around 460 kilowatt-hours. The target is to increase this to 1,500 kilowatt-hours within the next 10 years. According to the authority, the current national demand is equivalent to two thousand 319 megawatts. The authority, its subsidiary companies, and private sector projects are currently operating at full capacity.