Knowledgeable sources say disruption in fuel supply because of the ongoing blockade pressed the government to come up with the plan. The 12-point Energy Development Work Plan 2015 envisions declaring energy crisis in the country to facilitate construction of power plants by endorsing a separate Energy Crisis Bill.
A soon-to-be-formed taskforce will draft the bill and clear all legal constraints in prevailing laws for hydropower development. Gokarna Raj Panth, deputy spokesperson of MoE, said energy crisis could be declared by mid-January.
According to officials, the bill will scrap provisions in prevailing laws that have hindered smooth execution of hydropower projects. It will also make amendment to existing laws, if needed, so that hydropower plants can be developed smoothly.
The government had declared energy crisis in 2008. But nothing was done at that time as the government lacked concrete work plans to address power crisis. Frequent changes in government also affected government's work.
The government is preparing to declare energy crisis with the realization that energy security is a part of national sovereignty. Private sector has also requested the government to declare energy crisis. The plan is also as per the whitepaper issued by Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel on November 24.
The government has also announced to end load-shedding within a year. But it has failed to come up with convincing work plans to achieve the target.
Two hydropower projects -- Chamelia (mid-September) and Kulekhani (mid-November) are expected to start generation next year. Work of Upper Tamakoshi (456 MW), which was damaged by the earthquake, has not resumed yet. The project will start generation only from January, 2018, according to officials. Rehabilitation of the access road to reach the project site will be completed by April next year, the work plan states.
The government expects to add another 155 MW in 2016.
The work plan states that Ministry of Commerce and Supply will also ensure smooth supply of fuel and construction materials to these hydropower projects sites.
Likewise, the government plans to add 25 MW from solar plants, which are under contract process at present, by November 2016. Though Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has announced to install solar plant of 200 MW capacity within a year, the work plan states that feasibility study of the plant will be completed by mid-February.
Similarly, the government expects to complete land acquisition for Budhigandaki Hydropower Project by the end of the current fiscal year that ends in mid-July next year. But the work plan doesn't speak about additional budget required for the purpose. The 1200-megawatt project needs around Rs 58 billion for land acquisition alone. But the government has allocated less than Rs 3 billion for the purpose in this fiscal year.
The work plan also states that detailed project report of Nalsaugadh Hydropower Project (400 MW) within next three years. It also says the government will initiate study to identify other large-scale hydropower projects.
Similarly, the government also plans to raise funds for Ghunsa Hydropower Project (72 MW) and Simbua Hydropower Project (51 MW) by channeling remittances of migrant workers. Hydropower Development Company Limited is preparing modality for 'remit hydro', according to energy ministry officials.
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