Kathmandu: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal inaugurated two substations located at Butwal and Kapilvastu on Thursday. Bhusal inaugurated the 132-33-11 KV Motipur substation constructed in Banganga Municipality-7 of Kapilvastu as well as 220-132 KV New Butwal substation constructed in Sunwal Municipality-13 of Nawalparasi.

Eight towers were constructed for the East-West 132 KV transmission line and taken to Motipur substation. There are 30 and 16 MVA power transformers in the substation. Four feeders have been extracted from the substation for local power supply. Of these, three feeders have been brought into operation and the remaining one has been kept in reserve.

Similarly, the electricity of the hydropower project to be constructed in the Kaligandaki river basin will be connected to the Kaligandaki Corridor 220 KV transmission line starting from Dana, Myadi and later brought to the new substation in Butwal for connection to the national grid.

Speaking at the inauguration function, Minister Bhusal said that the initiative to sell the surplus electricity after consumption in Nepal to the neighboring countries was moving forward in a positive manner. Stating that the war between Russia and Ukraine is affecting Nepal, which resulted in the high price of petroleum products, Bhusal urged everyone to increase the consumption of electricity.

The Motipur substation has been constructed under Burtiwang-Paudi Amarai-Tamghas-Sandhikharka Gorusinge 132 KV transmission line project. The construction of a 132-33-11 KV substation and Motipur-Sandhikharka section of the transmission line at Sandhikharka of Arkhakhanchi under the project is also in the final stage. Likewise, Bardabat-New Butwal 220 KV and New Butwal-Kohalpur (Banke) 400 KV transmission lines are being constructed with grants from the United States through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact.