They said the government failed to bring forth policies and programs according to the earlier commitments to develop the energy sector. The government has vowed to generate 25,000 MW of electricity within 20 years.[break]
Independent Power Producers´ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) President Dr Subarna Das Shrestha said, “The budget has failed to give priority to the energy sector.”
He also added that the budget was silent on strategies to reduce the load-shedding hours (Nepal Electricity Authority has said it will be 14 hours per day at highest this year), create an investment-friendly climate and define the role of private sector to end the energy crisis.
The power producers demanded that the government should exempt VAT on the materials used in civil constructions, waive income tax on revenues generated during the first 15 years, and institute a power fund in order to create an investment-friendly climate.
They argued that power import has soared up by Rs 15 billion this year, which was ridiculous for a country having huge potentials to generate electricity.
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