Kathmandu. The government has set a deadline for the construction of high-capacity transmission lines to supply the generated electricity to the major load centers and to sell the surplus electricity at the regional and sub-regional levels. The process is to be forwarded with the objective of ending the irregularities seen in the construction of the transmission line and completing the project before the stipulated time. The government has determined a programme to resolve the problem of tree felling seen in the construction of the transmission line, remove the complications seen in the distribution of compensation and diversify the investment.

The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has set a deadline for the construction of the transmission line ‘Power Consumption Growth and Energy Export Strategy-2082’. As per the strategy, the construction of the Hetauda-Dhalkebar section of the Dhalkebar-Inaruwa transmission line will be completed by the end of the current fiscal year. The eastern section of Dhalkebar-Inaruwa section of the transmission line has been completed.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been made responsible for the early completion of the project. The project had been in trouble for a long time due to cutting down of trees, use of forest land and compensation. The problem has been resolved in recent days. Regular works have already started at the initiative of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

Likewise, construction of new Khimti-Barhabise transmission line is targeted to complete by fiscal year 2084/85. The capacity of the transmission line is 400 kV. The local levels and the Ministry of Forest and Environment have been made responsible for resolving problems seen in the construction of the transmission line.

Construction of Hetauda-Ratmate-Lapsiphedi New Damauli-New Butwal transmission line will be completed by fiscal year 2086÷87. The transmission line has a capacity of 400 KV. Similarly, construction of the new Butwal-Lamahi transmission line would be completed by fiscal year 2078÷88.

Likewise, construction of Lahmi-Chhinchu Dododhara transmission line is expected to be completed by fiscal year 2089/90. The Kimathanka-Haitar-Sitalpati transmission line is expected to be completed by fiscal year 2089/90.

Construction of Arun Hub Inaruwa transmission line, Inaruwa-Anaramani transmission line, Phukot-Betan Dododhara transmission line and Tingla Dudhkoshi-Dhalkebar transmission line by fiscal year 2090/91 has been included in the strategy. Likewise, Bheri corridor transmission line and Seti corridor transmission line will be completed in fiscal year 2090/91. The Dododhara-Attariya Lamki transmission line will be completed by fiscal year 2091/92. All these transmission lines have a capacity of four hundred kV.

The government has given special priority to the construction of transmission lines with the objective of supplying the generated electricity to the lad centers in an easy manner. The strategy has given special priority to the goal of carrying out necessary structural reforms, removing policy ambiguities and completing projects on time. Similarly, the strategy has also included the construction of inter-country transmission lines with equal importance. Capacity enhancement of inter-country transmission line is another important aspect.

The target is to complete the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur inter-country transmission line by fiscal year 2083/84. The projects include Butwal-Gorakhpur Interstate Transmission Line, Nanpara Nepalgunj, Inaruwa Purnia, Lamki Berli, Lamahi-Lucknow, Nijgan-Motihari, Chameliya Jauljibi, Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur and Chilime Hub Kerung.

The strategy clearly lists the goals of increasing the consumption of electricity domestically and selling the surplus electricity at the regional and sub-regional levels. Likewise, the modernization of the smart grid and substations will be carried out continuously. The capacity of the substation will be expanded to 40,000 MVA. This work will be completed by the fiscal year 2092÷93.

The strategy has laid equal importance on the modernization of the agriculture sector and the goal of providing feeder to the farmers’ fields. By the fiscal year 2092/93, the LP gas subsidy will be scrapped and subsidy will be given on electric stoves. Charging station network will be expanded across the country, and internal power consumption capacity will be developed by operating electric buses and trolley buses in major cities.

Currently, the total installed capacity of Nepal has reached 4,086 MW. With the expansion of the national grid, 98 percent of the population has access to electricity. In line with the national commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045, the strategy aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase domestic power consumption.

Nepal has signed a long-term power trade agreement with India to export 10,000 megawatts of electricity in 10 years. Currently, around one thousand two hundred megawatts of electricity is being imported and exported to India and Bangladesh.