Additional 88 megawatts of electricity has been added to the national grid during the first three months of the current fiscal year 2024/25.

Presenting the 100-day work progress of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation after the formation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli-led government on Wednesday, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka said that the power supply system has been further strengthened by bringing about 88 megawatts of hydropower from projects promoted by the private sector and connecting them to the national transmission system.

The new government under Prime Minister Oli was formed on July 15, 2024.

During this period, 12 MW Dudhkunda Khola Hydropower Project in Solukhumbu, 38 MW Nilgiri Khola Hydropower Project in Myagdi, 990 KW Selang Khola Small Hydropower Project, in Sindhupalchok, 25 MW Seti Khola Hydropower Project in Kaski, 4.96 MW Bhim Khola Hydropower Project in Baglung, 5 MW Lankhuwa Khola Small Hydropower Project in Sankhuwasabha and 2 MW Upper Richet Khola Hydropower Project in Gorkha promoted by private sector have been brought into operation during the review period.

Minister Khadka said that the construction work of Rasuwagadhi Hydroelectric Project with 111 MW capacity in Rasuwa, Middle Bhotekoshi Hydroelectric Project with 102 MW capacity in Sindhupalchok and Sanjen Hydroelectric Project with 42.5 MW capacity in Rasuwa have been completed and are in the final stage of commissioning.

"Middle Bhotekoshi, Sanjen and Rasuwagadhi hydropower projects were supposed to be commissioned in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. But, due to the floods and landslides that occurred in September last week affected the transmission line and caused delay to operate them as per the target. Now these projects will be connected to the national grid in a few weeks," he said.

Similarly, according to the ministry, documents related to TOR, and cost estimates are being prepared for the selection of consultants required for supervision to start the construction of the 1200 MW Budhigandaki Hydropower Project located in Gorkha district.

In addition, it is said that the process of finalising the construction model of the project has been expedited with priority.

It is also said that during the review period, the installation of solar water supply and irrigation pump with a capacity of 32.4 kilowatts has been completed through the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC).

Similarly, the Ministry said that the electricity generated from the 100 KW solar mini-grid in Susta Rural Municipality through the AEPC has been connected to the national transmission grid and is providing electricity service in about 300 households.

Power sales agreement, transmission lines extension

Minister Khadka said that the government has entered into an electricity trade agreement with Bangladesh, which is a significant achievement in electricity trade.

On October 3, 2024, Nepal Electricity Authority, Bangladesh Power Development Board and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) signed a tripartite electricity sales agreement to export 40 MW of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh.

According to the ministry, in view of the power demand of dry season when domestic power generation will not be enough and cannot depend only on India's exchange, a power purchase agreement has been signed between NEA and India's electricity trading company NVVN to import 200 MW from Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur 400 kV transmission line and 30 MW from Tanakpur-Mahendranagar 132 kV transmission line.

During the period, two substations, including 220/132/33 kV Chilime Hub GIS Substation and 220/132/33 kV Trishuli Hub Hybrid GIS Substation, have been completed and brought into operation.

Similarly, the construction of 4 km 220 kV single-circuit transmission line from Middle Bhotekoshi to Barhabise substation has been completed, while Dhalkebar-Inaruwa 400 kV transmission line, Dhalkebar-Loharpatti 132 kV transmission line and 132/33/11 kV substation (82.5 MVA) have been constructed and brought into operation.

According to the ministry, the construction of Chilime-Trishuli 220 kV transmission line (28.1 km, double circuit/multiple circuit) is almost completed.

Irrigation facilities

According to the ministry, irrigation facilities have reached 14,300 hectares of land from the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project in Kailali district and 4.71 megawatt power house has been brought into operation in 100 days.

The irrigated area has been expanded to about 266 hectares of land through surface and underground irrigation during this period from the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation.

About 4.5 hectares of land has been developed after completing the construction of about 5 km embankment in various rivers and streams of the country by the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation.

Policy formation and institutional restructuring

In accordance with the need to develop the energy sector in a planned and chronological manner, the "Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan 2081" has been prepared and submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval, incorporating the tasks to be done from 2023 to 2035, the ministry said.

According to the ministry, standards for studies and research work in the field of water resources and irrigation have been prepared and approved during the review period.

Similarly, standards for construction work have been prepared and submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

The Water and Meteorology Policy, 2081 has been approved and brought into implementation within 100 days of the government.

Author: Laxman Kafle