October 27: Due to the decline in internal electricity consumption in the country during the festival of Dashain, about 500 megawatts of electricity produced by hydropower projects is being wasted on a daily basis.

As the industries and factories that consume more electricity are shutdown during this time, the demand for electricity has decreased internally. Another reason is that the winter is yet to begin and the summer heat has ended in the Terai and there is not much use of electrical appliances at this period of year. 

On the other hand, electricity generation in the country is taking place without any hindrance as the flow of water in the rivers and stream is sufficient at the moment since the dry season has not yet started. The NEA, its subsidiaries and private sector hydropower projects have been producing electricity at optimal condition.

About 2,200 megawatts of electricity are currently being produced by the authority, its subsidiaries and private sector hydropower projects. Out of that, about 1000 MW is being consumed within the country, while about 650 to 700 MW of electricity is being exported to India.

Kulman Ghising, executive director of the NEA, said that since the electricity generated could not be consumed within the country and the NEA could not get approval from India for further export, around 500 megawatts of electricity is being wasted on a daily basis.

“Due to the festival of Dashain, domestic demand for electricity has decreased. Taking this situation into account, we had sent a proposal to the Central Electricity Authority of India seeking approval for exporting about 300 megawatts of surplus electricity. However, since we are yet to get the approval, around 500 megawatts of electricity is being wasted on a daily basis since the day before Phulpati,” said Ghising, adding, “We are losing millions of rupees daily due to this. But, we are confident that we will get approval for exporting more electricity soon."

The NEA has been exporting surplus electricity to India during the rainy season. The NEA has been selling around 110 MW of electricity to the Indian company NTPC Vidyut Vyar Nigam Ltd (NVVN) through competitive bids in the day-ahead market of IEX and under the medium-term power agreement. NVVN is selling the electricity purchased from Nepal in the state of Haryana.

The Nepal Electricity Authority has received approval for the export of 632 MW to India including 522 MW of electricity in the competitive market of India and 110 MW to NVVN.

The NEA exported electricity worth Rs 11.80 billion to India from mid-May to mid-October.