14th Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee meet concludes

KATHMANDU: The 14th meeting of Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee which concluded on March 17 in New Delhi, India, decided to prepare the modality of power to be exported by Nepal within a month. The meeting decided to prepare a modality for power export from Nepal to different states of India through central transmission line via the Bihar grid. The meeting was co-chaired by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Executive Director Kul Man Ghising, and member of Power System member of the Central Electricity Authority of India, Ashok Kumar Rajput. "Both sides will finalise the modality within a month for the same. This has ensured the additional market for the sale of surplus electricity during the rainy season," shared NEA Executive Director Ghising. Kataiya (Bihar)-Kushaha (Nepal) and Raxaul-Parawanipur 132-KV transmission line are connected with Bihar. The meeting as per the Power Exchange Agreement determined the price of per unit electricity at Rs 11.54 for the fiscal year 2022/23. The new tariff is not based on the 'Take or Pay' modality, Ghising asserted. "This is the tariff Nepal purchases when in need. Since we only import electricity when needed, the tariff is cheaper. We don’t get this rate even when we export electricity." He shared that while making requisition for electricity with India last December, they had proposed that Nepal would purchase electricity from the Indian company through bidding in which the electricity will be procured for Rs 7.50 per unit in February and March, and Rs 8.70 per unit in April and May. Ghising explained that the companies selected in the competition are only allowed to sell electricity produced from imported coal to Nepal, and due to fluctuating price of coal, the Indian company was not adamant to ink an agreement with the Authority even at the proposed tariff. According to him, the system of imported coal was not applicable in Bihar State. Hence the rate of electricity has become cheaper. The average price of electricity per unit in the competitive market is INRs 12. "An additional INRs 1.5 is added to this tariff including transmission charges. Hence, the rate fixed at present is cheaper than others." The meeting decided that a modality will be fixed within a month for Nepal to import electricity to Bihar. "With this, the market for Nepal's surplus electricity has been assured,' remarked Ghising. Nepal imports electricity from India when needed through Power Exchange Agreement and as per the Mahakali Treaty as well as through competition. Electricity is being imported to Nepal through Dhalkebar-Muzzafarpur cross-border 400 KV double circuit transmission line and other transmission lines. The NEA traded surplus electricity worth Rs 8.4 billion to India from the beginning of the current fiscal year 2022/23 till date. By RSS READ ALSO:

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