It has proposed to generate 230 MW of electricity through 15 hydro-power projects by 2012. Speaking at a press meet organized at the Ministry of Energy (MoE) Wednesday, Energy Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said, “With an effective five-year plan, we have targeted a 230 MW generation from the projects.” [break]
Mahat also claimed that the 400 kv Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line corridor with 1,200 MW carrying capacity would also be completed by 2012.
In the year 2066 BS, the government has issued 2080 MW of survey licenses and 54 MW of generation licenses. The government has also planned to give tax wave to investors in phase-wise basis. In the last one year, Nepal Electricity Authority has entered into Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) on 19 projects for generating 122 MW.
Defending NEA´s role in fighting load-shedding, Mahat added that there is a need to “restructure” NEA. He informed that the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat is working on developing a master plan on River Basin Optimization Strategy. The government is also preparing to hike the electricity tariff and ban use of invertors to cut down power consumption.
Upper Karnali work ´will resume´
Stating that all work relating to Upper Karnali will be “resumed” soon, Mahat said, “The work at Upper Karnali will resume at any cost.”
Pointing at the obstruction created by the UCPN (Maoist) and the threats issued to close down the project last week, Mahat said, “They (Maoists) have no alternative but to withdraw all the protests.” He added, “Otherwise the local people will protest against them (Maoists).”
20-25% tariff hike likely
NEA sources have said that there will be a possible 20-25% average electricity tariff hike in the country. The worst affected will be the commercial and industrial sector while the effect on domestic households will be less. However, the Rs 4 slab under the present tariff system will be untouched, an NEA official told myrepublica.com.
Mahat said that the tariff rate will be determined by the Commission formed for this purpose. He said there is a “necessity” to hike the tariff as the rate has remained the same for nine years. He said NEA has to collect Rs 650 million tariff dues from government offices and Rs 1 billion from other consumers.
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