Longer load shedding hours likely after India supply cut
KATHMANDU, JAN 15 -
Nepal’s power woes are likely to worsen further as India has cut down power supply by 30MW from Monday.
Nepal Electricity Authority spokesperson Sher Singh Bhat said that India has cut off electricity supply completely through the 32KV transmission lines of Raksual-Birgunj, Sitamadhi-Jaleshwor and Kataiya-Rajbiraj. Likewise, the southern neigbour has also cut down electricity supply of 20MW through 132KV Kataiya-Duhabi transmission line. India, which has been supplying 70-75MW of power to Nepal, reduced it down to just 50-60MW from Monday.
Bhat said that the NEA was unsure as to how long India will be cutting down power supply. “Its impact on load shedding table will be clear once we learn about the length of the reduced power supply from India,” he said, while assuring that it would not make big difference if it lasts for just 1-2 days.
But the NEA’s current 12-hour long load shedding is expected go up soon. While the government had announced the load shedding reduction plan not to increase power cuts more than 12 hours a day, it has not been able to implement the plan.
Early construction of the 400KV Dhalkebar-Mujjaffapur inter-boarder transmission line, generating 40MW energy from diesel plants, importing 200MW additional energy from India and purchasing energy from the plants of local industrial units among others were the major features of load shedding reduction plan. However, hardly any of the plans has so far been implemented properly.
10MW Hetauda plant closed
The Hetauda-based diesel plant has stopped electricity generation due to short supply of diesel. The plant, which had been producing 10MW, needs four tankers of diesel each day received just three tankers from the Nepal Oil Corporation on Sunday.
“As the NOC failed to supply the adequate fuel on Monday, the plant remained closed,” said an NEA official, adding that the plant would resume operation as soon as the NOC deliver the regular supply.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
