Industrialists have stated that the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been implementing load shedding without prior notice, even for industries that require electricity 24/7. During a press conference on Sunday, the Nepal Cement Producers Association, Steel Producers Association, and Nepal Yarn Producers Association informed that since the month of Chaitra, daily load shedding has been occurring for 12 hours or more.

Industrialists have claimed that although the government declared an end to load shedding in industrial areas in April/May 2018, industries have continued to face power cuts every month. They stated that from 2018 to 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and up until Feb/March 2025, load shedding has progressively increased, lasting 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, and 10 hours per day, respectively.

“The authority cannot admit that it is implementing load shedding, and it does not acknowledge it. When asked for a schedule, they falsely claim that there is no load shedding and engage in misleading propaganda,” the press release states. “Cement, steel, yarn, and other industries that require electricity 24/7 have been facing declared load shedding. It is clear that load shedding has been imposed every year from mid December–mid Feb to the mid of June.”

Industrialists have demanded that electricity be supplied 24 hours a day and at the required capacity for industries. “The authority claims that it provides full electricity during the day but cuts it off at night, yet insists that this is not load shedding,” the press release states. “Our industries cannot operate for half the time and remain shut for the other half. If industries do not run 24/7, they will be forced to shut down, and the machinery will turn into scrap.”

Source: Kantipur