It is widely acknowledged that the establishment of an industry contributes significantly to development - providing employment opportunities, tax income for the state, and numerous advantages for local residents.

After the establishment of one such industry, the state has not only received tax revenue but has also gained the advantage of an electrical substation - an infrastructure that would otherwise require a large investment. This is the 132 kV capacity substation built in Malekhu, Dhading.

Since the process was expected to take a long time, Huaxin Narayani Cement Industry, on its own investment, constructed a 132 kV substation near Malekhu in Ward No. 6 of Siddhalekh Rural Municipality, planning to settle government fees and formalities later according to official provisions.

Despite countless towers and wires of transmission lines crisscrossing the area, Dhading district had long been deprived of reliable electricity. Across the district, electricity supply was either unavailable or highly unstable, with frequent outages even during mild storms. Residents also suffered from problems caused by high voltage, such as damage to electrical appliances. Local people had repeatedly raised complaints with the Nepal Electricity Authority and the active political leadership in the district.

Providing electricity to large industries is a responsibility of the state. Huaxin Narayani Cement, a Chinese-invested cement industry established in Dhading under the coordination of the Investment Board, had also decided to invest on the condition that the government would provide roads and electricity. The substation constructed by the industry itself has made electricity access in the district significantly easier.

According to Dilliraj Pokharel, Deputy General Manager of Huaxin Narayani Cement, the Malekhu substation has not only ensured smooth electricity transmission in Dhading but has also brought other direct benefits to the district.

According to Bishwajit Yadav, the in-charge of the Malekhu substation, the facility has played a major role in ensuring reliable electricity supply in Dhading and surrounding areas. He explained that previously, electricity used to be transmitted from Salyantar to Dhadingbesi and nearby areas, with no alternative sources available. Since the construction of this substation, electricity flow has become more stable, even during periods of high demand.

The substation built by the industry has benefited not only Dhading but also provided significant advantages to the Nepal Electricity Authority. To address longstanding complaints from across the district, the Authority has strengthened the electricity distribution system throughout Dhading using this very substation.

The Dhading Distribution Center has stated that preparations are underway to provide reliable electricity across the district from the same substation within a few months. Currently, the distribution center serves 66,180 customers. Established with an investment of NPR 150 crore, the substation has also paved the way for industrialization in Dhading.

In the past, electricity supplied to the district headquarters, Dhadingbesi, from Devighat in Nuwakot suffered from poor quality due to the long and low-capacity transmission lines. Even mild storms would cause the lines to trip, leaving residents in darkness for extended periods. It was also challenging to connect the small hydropower projects built in Dhading and Gorkha to the grid.

The industry itself has constructed a 14-kilometer transmission line from the substation to its plant in Taldi, along with a 132 kV/10 kV substation. When operating at full capacity, the industry consumes a total of 20 megawatts of electricity. The substation also serves as a reliable alternative source for electricity supply in case of issues at the substations in Baseri and Salyantar.

Arrangements have been made to connect a total of 4.5 MW capacity Development Hydropower, 4.98 MW Richett, and 2 MW Upper Richet projects to the Malekhu substation via the Baseri and Salyantar substations.

Similarly, the substation has also facilitated electricity supply for the 8 MW Aankhukhola Hydropower Project. The industry, located in Taldi of Benighat-Rorang Rural Municipality, has paid equal attention to local development. According to Krishna Bahadur Thapliya, chairperson of the rural municipality, the industry has made development and construction work in the area much easier. He added that the industry has boosted sales of local agricultural produce, provided employment opportunities, and led to growth in the local hotel business.

The industry has a daily production capacity of 3,000 metric tons of cement. Established through the Direct Foreign Investment process coordinated by the Investment Board, the agreement for the industry’s establishment was signed on June 20, 2018 between the then CEO of the Investment Board, Mahaprasad Adhikari, and Vice Chairman Su Gang on behalf of Huaxin Cement. The industry provides direct employment to 350 people and indirect employment to around 1,000 others.

Currently, Nepal has a demand of around 4 million metric tons of cement. Although the total installed capacity of cement industries established in the country has reached 5.5 million metric tons, production has slowed down in recent times.

Jalasarokar