Kathmandu, Nepal, October 19, 2021: Nepal government’s request to India to import electricity has not been responded yet though the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) had written a letter to the India’s Ministry of Power about two months ago.
Nepal wants to export surplus energy to India not only because of immediate possibilities to export but it requires energy to cope the energy crunch. India, however, has not responded the Nepal’s request resulting billions of loss.
The NEA had requested for immediate response but India has not responded yet, an official at the NEA said preferring anonymity.
Nepal has been wasting 200MW and 600MW of electricity daily during different times. It is estimated that more than 800MW of electricity would be wasted in coming years and at night time even now.
Though Nepal was facing outages up to 18 hours a day until 2017, it has surplus energy, thanks to the completion of many Hydro electricity projects regardless of owned by the government or private sectors.
As 456MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project came into full operation since last August, Nepal has surplus energy even in the dry season and peak hours too.
Nepal requires 1,500MW energy even in the pick hour but Nepal has now about 2,000MW electricity.
Nepal used to consume about 900MW to 1,100MW electric during the night time while 1,200MW to 1,300MW during the daytime.
The NEA has been either cutting down the electricity generation or wasting the unconsumed energy.
As NEA has already made agreement to purchase energy from the Hydropower companies, it has to pay even if the electricity was not consumed.
