Generate & Distribute
IT is a common knowledge that Nepal is sitting on potentials of generating 83,000
megawatts of electricity while after decades of hydropower development the actual
generation at present amounts to only a fraction of the potentials i.e 584 megawatt. It is
also a common knowledge that because we have been able to generate only this much, only
about 20 per cent of the Nepalese are currently covered by the electricity grid, requiring
the other 80 per cent of the population to live in the dark, so to say. What is not so
widely known and comes as a surprise that of the total of 2,088 megawatt hour electricity
produced by Nepal Electricity Authority--the central power agency-through its electricity
generation system till the end of the fiscal year 2058/59, only 1575 megawatt hour
electricity was sold and distributed to the people. Of that, 1432 megawatt hour of
electricity was consumed in Nepal and 143 megawatt exported to India. What this means is
that there is quite a bit of generated electricity, that is not utilised. Apparently, the
distribution system is not par with what is being generated and potentials of power
exports not fully exploited.
At the anniversary function of NEA the other day, it was
revealed that a number of hydel plants in the pipeline like mid-Marsyangdi, Chamellya,
Kulekhani-III, Upper Karnali and Upper Tamakoshi projects will be commissioned in the next
eight or nine years. Moreover, the projects that are being prepared to be signed in the
coming year alone would, when they are commissioned, yield 3000 more megawatt electricity.
Clearly, the future of power scene in Nepal is much brighter than it is now. Hydel plants
are costly projects and take a long time in coming to fruition. So, there is much wisdom
in the common suggestion that NEA do its utmost in checking the leakage that is occurring.
Though NEA's financial position in recent times is reported to be getting better, the less
leakage would certainly mean its finances will get even better and it will be able to
serve better its present 878,000 clients and the future ones too. At the same time, it
will have to renew its efforts to distribute the power that is already generated. If the
distribution system can't keep pace with the generated amount, then it defeats the whole
purpose of creating more and more hydel plants. It will seem unacceptable that many rural
areas continue to be deprived of the power, so essential to drive the economy there, while
the generated electricity remains unutilised.
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