Finance, Energy ministers inaugurate Musikot substation in Rukum West

KATHMANDU: The 33/11kV Musikot substation constructed in Dhairenichaur, Musikot Municipality-3 of Rukum West has come into operation. Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal jointly inaugurated the substation amid a programme organised on Monday. Electricity will be supplied to Rukum West, Rukum East and some places of Jajarkot from the substation. Addressing the programme, Finance Minister Sharma urged all to use electric stoves by replacing the cooking gas. He lauded that the 'Ujyalo Rukum' campaign started by him has now turned into 'Ujyalo Nepal'. "Electricity is a basic tool of the economic revolution. Its use must be extended to households and industries to make the economy self-reliant, and quality development must be done by building quality infrastructure," he said. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Bhusal said that it was a great thing to be able to light a lamp in the past but now efforts are being made to supply electricity to the households of all Nepalis within two years and to make the electricity service reliable and quality. She said, "We have moved towards becoming self-sufficient in electricity as we have been able to meet the demand from our own products. We have started exporting the surplus electricity to India after consuming power produced during a few months of the rainy season. Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Executive Director Kulman Ghising informed that the works of complete electrification of Karnali has been expedited keeping it on high priority. Musikot substation has been brought into operation by taking electricity from Salyan Sittalpati substation through an 80-kilometre-long 33 kV transmission line. The substation has a 3 MVA capacity power transformer. With the operation of Musikot substation, there has been a significant improvement in the voltage of electricity, regularity in the line and reduction in technical leakage in Rukum. Arrangement has also been made to supply electricity to the entire district from Kudu substation in Jajarkot district. Due to this, the power outage in Salyan or Tulsipur in Dang will not disrupt the power in Rukum West and Rukum East. Meanwhile, Feeders are being built for power supply from the substation. At present, electricity is being supplied to the entire district through only one feeder. The power supply in the area will be further improved after the remaining feeders come into operation. It has been learnt that the electricity from Rukumgad Hydropower Project (5 MW) being constructed by the private sector in Rukum East will also be connected to Musikot substation. The construction of Musikot substation was started in 2015/16. However, as the site proposed for the construction came under the risk of landslides, it took time to find a new site. A contract worth Rs 88.8 million was signed with Waiba Infratech for the construction of the substation. Electricity has reached in all three municipalities and three rural municipalities in Rukum West except for some wards. Out of 73 wards in the local level electricity has reached in 52 wards only. About 70% of the electrification work has been done through the national transmission line in Rukum West. The overall electrification of Rukum West, including local micro hydropower stands at 85%. READ ALSO:

• PM Deuba inaugurates new Khimti substation in Ramechhap
• Minister Bhusal inaugurates Motipur substation, inspects two others
• PM Deuba to inaugurate second largest substation on Saturday
• Construction of Mainahiya-Sampatiya transmission line expedited