Nepal to push building power lines at Energy Group meet
KATHMANDU, NOV 06 -
The Energy Ministry has said that it will lobby for construction of high-voltage transmission lines linking Nepal with other South Asian countries at the meeting of the Energy Group under the South Asian Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation scheduled to be held in Bhutan. Energy secretaries of four South Asian countries —Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka —will attend the two-day meeting to be held from Nov 9-10.
Energy secretary Hari Ram Koirala is leaving for Thimpu on Nov 8 for the meeting. Koirala said that the meeting would be significant in building a consensus on how to realize cross-border energy connectivity and reaping benefits from it. He added that Nepal would present three major topics at the meeting —construction of cross-border high-voltage power lines, development of mega projects in Nepal and Nepal’s trading of hydro electricity with neighbouring SAARC countries.
“Despite Nepal’s having abundant potential in hydro power generation, investors so far have been unwilling to invest in the hydro sector due to a restricted market,” said Energy Secretary Koirala.
Despite the government’s reliance on India as an export market for Nepal’s surplus energy , the southern neighbour has been reluctant to sign a power trade treaty with Nepal.
“In this context, Nepal should be able to enhance its relationship with other SAARC countries so as to export hydro electricity for which construction of high voltage transmission lines linking SAARC countries are a must,” added Koirala.
Apart from Koirala, two officials from the Energy Ministry and one official from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will represent Nepal at the meeting. Ministry officials said that the team would make an effort to construct cross-border transmission lines with Bhutan, Sri Lanka and India separately.
The meeting will also focus on developing measures to minimize energy crisis in the SAARC sub-region and get optimum benefits from its energy resources.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
