Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, has said that the construction of transmission lines should be carried out based on the capacity of power generation. Speaking at a programme organised to mark the 10th anniversary of The National Transmission Grid Company Limited here this evening, he stressed the need for construction of transmission lines based on the power generation capacity of various rivers.

“The power transmission line should be constructed by ensuring the capacity of electricity generated in which corridor, so that the same land and forest can be acquired,” he said. He said the environmental impact should also be taken into account while producing hydropower.

Energy Minister Khadka said the energy sector has been taken as the backbone of the country’s main source of income. Stating that the government has forwarded a blueprint for energy development for 10 years, he said that grid companies have an important role to play in fulfilling the blueprint. Minister Khadka clarified that the government is working on energy development by taking the private sector along as the energy sector is the fastest growing sector of the country’s economic development and economy. He said the government was trying to speed up the energy sector.

“The government is moving ahead with a clear roadmap on how to facilitate and finance the energy sector, which has huge investments, and we have taken the private sector as a major partner in the development of the energy sector,” he said. He said the government would continue to address the legal complications and difficulties seen for the development of the energy sector.

Minister Khadka said that the energy sector should benefit from our two neighboring countries. Stating that the demand for electricity is increasing day by day, he stressed the need to increase production.

Chairman of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Dr Ram Prasad Dhital said the government was committed to ensuring open access to the transmission system. He said that the Regulatory Commission is working to fix the wheeling fee on the transmission line.

On the occasion, Energy Secretary and Chairman of National Transmission Grid Company Limited Suresh Acharya stressed the need to develop grid company as a leading institution in the construction, development, modernization and operation of the country’s overall transmission system and make it a strong driver of energy supply and energy trade in the country.

Executive Director of Investment Board Sushil Gyawali and Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Hitendra Dev Shakya stressed the need for coordination among the three levels of government for the development of the energy sector.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Transmission Grid Company Limited, Engineer Sagar Shrestha, said that the grid company would strengthen the transmission infrastructure in the next 10 years. At present, the company has taken forward 11 transmission projects in different phases. On the occasion, Minister Khadka released a book titled ‘Journey of a Decade’ published on behalf of the company.