Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal has promised that entire households would be provided with sufficient electricity within the next two years.
“At the moment, around 95 percent houses are electrified and the full coverage will be complete within a couple of years.”, Bhusal said. Inaugurating the 232 kV double-circuit Butwal-Lumbini transmission line at Mainhiya of Rupandehi today, Minister Bhusal insisted on mass use of electoral devices from irrigation to transport sectors. She urged people to opt for electric motor vehicles, “We plan to increase power consumption in each areas and export the surpluses to India and Bangladesh.”
At present, Nepal has been supplying 400 MW of electricity to India and plans to supply 50 MW to Bangladesh as well. Shek also informed that a heavy discount (75 percent) has been ensured on electricity tariffs in the irrigation sector.
She also said that with the operation of the Butwal-Lumbini transmission line, the power supply for industrial sector in the area would meet demand. The Minister also thanked project officials and contractors for completing the project within the deadline.
The Ministry Secretary, Sushil Chandra Tiwari said the government adopts a policy of increasing internal power consumption, and exporting surpluses to downsize country’s ballooning trade deficit.
On the occasion, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) managing director Kulman Ghising said transmission line remained as a project of high significance for the area. The nation currently earned two billion Indian rupees per month from the power trade, according to him.
The completion of the 18 kilometer Butwal-Lumbini transmission line has capacity of transmitting around 200 MW of electricity. On the occasion, Minister also inaugurated the 132/11/19 kV Mainhaniya substation.
