Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, has said that strengthening the supply and distribution system along with power generation will be the main priority of the government.

In his address to an interaction on ‘Challenges and Upgradation of Electrical Infrastructures’ organized by Association of Economic Journalists-Nepal (NAFIJ) here today, Minister Shrestha said upgradation of dilapidated and substandard infrastructure was inevitable to manage the growing demand for electricity.

The government has put infrastructure development in priority, saying the problems of power cut and tripping have been seen since some days due to weak infrastructure despite generating sufficient electricity.

The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has prepared a plan to spend around Rs 80 billion in the budget for the fiscal year 2083/84 BS in the electricity infrastructure. According to him, preparations are underway to spend a big chunk from the internal resources of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for the development and upgradation of infrastructure.

Minister Shrestha said the government has set a target to complete the construction of 12 transmission lines of strategic importance within the next fiscal year. By the end of this fiscal year, the total length of transmission lines of 66 kV and above will reach 7,048 circuit kilometers and additional 800 circuit kilometers will be expanded next year.

The government has already implemented the Energy Consumption Enhancement and Export Strategy-2083 BS and the per capita consumption of electricity was around 460 KWh at present and the per capita consumption rate would be increased to 1,500 KW by next 10 years. According to him, the government’s priority is to expand the domestic consumption by increasing the use of electricity in industry, transport, agriculture and domestic sectors and to export electricity to the regional market.

Minister Shrestha said that the Nepal-India Energy Secretary-level meeting held in Pokhara achieved an important achievement in achieving Nepal’s long-term goal of exporting 10,000 megawatts power to India. According to him, the meeting made important decisions on power trade and expansion of transmission infrastructures across the border.

He shared that a law would be formulated to allow the private sector to trade electricity in the national and international market by adopting the policy of liberalization in power trade. He further said that preparations are underway to construct transmission lines with private investment and implement a system to trade electricity through ‘wheeling charge’.

Minister Shrestha stressed the need for collaboration of all stakeholders including the government, private sector, banks and media to pursue transformation in energy sector as a national campaign.