India is all set to export an additional 220 MW electricity to Nepal in a bid to lessen the perennial power crisis in the energy-starved Himalayan nation.
Nepal will get 190 MW within three weeks and another 30 MW by another two months.
Nepal currently imports 300-320 MW electricity from India, the Indian embassy said in a tweet.
Both governments are working towards increasing this amount by additional 250 MW in next two months.
The electricity from India will be imported through various cross-border corridors.
Though Nepal has huge potential of generating hydro energy of over 80,000 MW round the year, it could not harness more than 800 MW as against the winter demand of more than 13,00 MW. The poor rate of production is attributed to lack of political consensus, instability and resource crunch.
Nepal is going through power cuts of more than 13 hours a day in winter season, but has been managing the power crisis during rainy seasons as its power stations run in full capacity.
After an upgrade of the Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar cross border transmission line, Nepal and India will be able to export and import more energy.
The completion of this power corridor will allow Nepal to significantly increase its energy imports from India. Nepal is currently importing 80 MW from this station.
During a meeting in November in New Delhi, the Indian side had agreed to add 220 to 250 MW electricity to Nepal, a senior Nepal government official said.
As part of that agreement, India’s Power Trading Corporation had agreed to provide 30 MW electricity round the clock from Tanakpur substation located in far west of Nepal from Uttarakhand.
Several cross-border transmission lines are proposed between Nepal and India, and some are already under construction.
Source: hindustantimes.com