KATHMANDU, July 15: The government has brought out an ambitious report showing the possibility of generating 36,628 MW hydroelectricity in the country within the next 20 years.
The report includes a proposal to generate 2,057 MW within five years to address the load-shedding crisis facing Nepalis at present.
The report prepared by a taskforce on 20-Year Hydropower Development Plan Formulation claimed that the target figure will be attainable through the completion of three mega multi-purpose projects -- Pancheshwar, Karnali-Chisapani and Saptakoshi -- within the 20-year span. Without including these three projects, the country will be able to generate 20,354 MW.
The report breaks down that figure into 2,057 MW by 2015, 12,423 MW by 2020, 5,114 MW by 2025 and another 18,034 by 2030.
Speaking at a press meet at the Ministry of Energy on Wednesday, former secretary at the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) Kishor Thapa, who is coordinator of the taskforce, said, “In the next five years, the country can produce 1,887 MW for internal consumption and 170 MW for export.”
Thapa informed that of the 12,423 MW to be produced in 2014-19, 8,093 MW will be for internal consumption and 4,330 MW for export. During that time, the government would be able to produce 5,114 MW from 15 projects.
"But for all this to materialize, there has to be a very favorable investment climate in the country," Thapa said, pointing to the political instability and insecure environment currently faced by foreign investors in Nepal.
The report prepared by a taskforce on 20-Year Hydropower Development Plan Formulation claimed that the target figure will be attainable through the completion of three mega multi-purpose projects -- Pancheshwar, Karnali-Chisapani and Saptakoshi -- within the 20-year span.
The outgoing government had set a target of generating 25,000 MW in 20 years.
The report has also claimed that annual power consumption in the country at present is 67 units per person. Of the total energy consumed, 90 percent is used by households and only 10 percent by industries, and of the household consumption most of the energy is used for cooking purposes.
Also speaking during the program, Energy Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said, “We have brought out a comprehensive plan which will be a guiding tool for the next government as well.” He added, “In the field of hydropower development in Nepal we must not look back.”
Mahat added, “The most difficult part is to arrange financing and infrastructure for the mega projects. This will take time.”
He also pointed to the need to take transmission line projects ahead in parallel with hydro project construction. The government is working on the Anarmani-Mahendranagar 400 kv line in the Tarai and a 200 kv line in the Hills.
The report projects that Nepal Electricity Authority will require a budget of $215.07 billion to generate 75.2 MW within five years. NEA is currently developing four projects - Chameliya, Kulekhani-3, Upper Trishuli and Upper Seti -- aimed at producing 232 MW.
Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=21040
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