Nepal to import 80 MW more from Feb 17

Will enable easing of power outage

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: Nepal will be importing from February 17 an amount of energy almost equal to what it generates on its own in the dry season. An agreement signed on Monday paves the way for importing an additional 80 MW from India, bringing this country closer to importing more power than it generates during season.

Total power generation in the country in the dry season is 326 MW--238 MW, from projects under Nepal Electricity Authority and 88 MW from the Independent Power Producers Association, or Nepal (IPPAN). The current import is up to 235 MW and this will make for a total import of 315 MW after February 17.

With the additional import through partial operation of the 400 KVA transmission line that spans the 140 kilometers from Dhalkebar of Nepal to India's Muzaffarpur, NEA officials will be able to at least alleviate the power outage hours from the current level of 91 hours per week.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Energy Ministry Secretary Suman Prasad Sharma said the additional import, which has become possible after much effort, will ease the electricity supply. "Reducing the power outage hours will be decided after analyzing the behavior of the load system following this import," he added. NEA is already into homework for announcing longer load shedding hours due to continuous reduction in water levels. Maximum combined generation by all hydropower projects is 762 MW, and this is only possible during rainy days. The Kulekhani Project is the only reservoir-type project in the country. All the other projects are run-of-river.

Peak power demand these days is 1,316 MW, and NEA imposes load shedding to bridge the demand for 785 MW.

The agreement signed by NEA's Managing Director Mukesh Raj Kafle and General Manager of NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) of India A. K. Maggu provides electricity at the rate of Rs 5.50 (Indian Rupees 3.44) per unit, through partial operation of the 400 KVA transmission line between Dhalkebar and Mujaffarpur. A press statement issued by NEA after the signing says that the deal is effective until the end of June.

"We have purchased at a most competitive price from India," said Sharma.

This is a gesture of the Indian government in support of Nepal, added Maggu.

The additional electricity supply will come in the wake of about 20 weeks of an Indian blockade that had crippled Nepal. Electricity imports from India had, however, remained continuous.

Inter-country connection by transmission line of this capacity in a synchronized fashion is a first between the two countries. Nepal had long been awaiting completion of the transmission line for balancing energy supply through imports in the dry months and exports in case of surplus.

Talking to Republica, Sher Singh Bhat, deputy managing director of NEA, said Nepal's dream of trading electricity is now possible through the new transmission line, albeit partially. "This is the same status that Bangladesh had two years ago," he said. The import will begin into implementation the Power Trade Agreement with India signed on October 21, 2014, according to the press statement.

In its plan of end load shedding within a year, the government aims to bring in a total of 600 MW from India through the new transmission line and two other transmission lines. New power plants in the country will add another 200 MW.