Only surplus power will be exported: Energy Minister Basnet
KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet has said only surplus power will be exported to India.
During a meeting of the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly on Thursday, Minister Basnet asserted that the government aimed to consume electricity within the country and only the excessive electricity will be sold to India.
Even a credible base for production of 28,500MW power in 12 years was created, Minister Basnet informed the lawmakers, adding that a 12-year-old strategic plan (2023 to 2035BS) was prepared to usher development through energy in the country.
According to him, Nepal and India signed an agreement on export of 10,000MW electricity from Nepal to India in 10 years, for which, infrastructures were being prepared. Minister Basnet said the power trade agreement has been made by keeping national interest at the centre. Nepal's electricity will also be sold to Bangladesh.
Moreover, Minister Basnet shared that government has intensified the process via Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to expand domestic electrification. In the coming one and half years, the country will be fully electrified at basic level.
On the occasion, ministry secretary Gopal Prasad Sigdel informed the lawmakers about the recent agreement Nepal and India had on power trade, which Sigdel, argued would contribute to country's economic development and prosperity.
The technical and other issues will however be sorted out gradually by the bilateral joint-secretary level meetings, the Energy Minister said.
Responding to the lawmakers' query on dedicated and trunk line tariff, secretary Sigdel informed that the government was making special initiatives for solving this pressing problem. Even a commission was formed by the Cabinet to this end.
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Deputy Executive Director Manoj Silwal said a campaign of nationwide electrification was on.
During the meeting, lawmakers including Ram Chandra Rai, Kumar Dasaudi, Sonam Gyaljen Sherpa, Gopi Achhami, inquired minister and secretary on various issues relating to electricity consumption and agreement.
By RSS
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