Until 1992, the electricity market of Nepal was bundled, enabling only Nepal Electricity

Authority(national electricity company of Nepal) to run the market. However, after the electricity act of
1992, the market has become unbundled at the generation point, allowing private producers to participate
in the market. These private producers are called Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

Electricity Generation
IPPs generate electricity from different source and then sell it to NEA(as the market is bundled at
distribution point and thus only NEA is active in distribution and transmission point). IPPs form
an agreement called Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)with the NEA. [2] According to the PPA ,
NEA is supposed to buy electricity from IPPs once the project has been completed. The
electricity buying rate is fixed between NEA and IPPs for summer and winter months. There
exist two PPA rates between IPPs and NEA. The first agreement is a flat rate for all electricity
projects below 25 MW. The second agreement is a negotiated rate for projects higher than 25
MW.[3]

Share of IPPs Generated Electricity

Power purchase from IPPs has increased from 27% in 2003 to 33% in 2006 and then decreased
significantly in 2010. In 2010, IPPs share was only 17%. Increasing the share of IPPs generated electricity
will increase help NEA to meet its electricity demand and reduce power cuts.

Challenges for IPPs in Nepal

Unstable Political Climate

The political climate of Nepal is very unstable with frequently changing cabinet and prime
minister. This unstable government creates mistrust and insecurity among the investors. Thus,
the investors do not want to invest in hydro projects that takes long time for completion.
Moreover, many IPPs have also received security threats from time to time.[4]

Low Rate of Return

IPPAN has been lobbying for a negotiated rate for projects below 25 MW capacities and an
escalation of 5% for nine consecutive years. IPPAN has further stated that if the PPA is revised
to meet these demands, 170 power producers with installed capacity of 580 MW will go into
operation within 3 years. However, NEA is not ready to accept all these demands. This has
created friction between NEA and IP Ps and also affected the power generation. Thus, to ensure
high electricity production and supply, IPPs and NEA should cooperate and come to an
agreement for the power purchase rate. [5]

Risk for Independent Power Producers (IPPs)

Before investing in electricity generation, IPPs need to consider various factors like revenue
security, market demand, and contract procurement. The following table from Best Practices
Manual from USAID summarizes the risks of IPPs.[5]

Risk of IPPs

Private Power Producers face mounting

challenges
Report / August 28, 2023
The infrastructural issues including transmission lines and delay by India to
increase energy imports from Nepal have seriously raised the issue of business
sustainability in the hydropower sector.

the HRM

A total of 170 MW of electricity produced by 20 hydroelectric projects is being

wasted in the current wet season as the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has
failed to build transmission lines and substations on time. Private power
producers say they will lose Rs 2.32 billion in income this monsoon season
due to the lack of power transmission infrastructure.

According to the Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN),

many producers have been forced to operate their power plants by reducing
the load by 20-50 percent.
While the government and NEA are still buoyant about hydropower
development in the country, the infrastructural issues including transmission
lines and delay by India to increase Nepal’s electricity export quota have
seriously raised the issue of business sustainability in the hydropower sector.

The last three years have been quite momentous for the Nepali energy sector
with multiple developments and breakthroughs taking place one after another.
While 1,227 MW has been added to the national grid in the last two fiscal
years, the country also began electricity export to India.

With Nepal’s power generation capacity reaching 2,700 MW by mid-July,

2023, there are serious concerns over possible spillages of electricity unless
the government step in to resolve the transmission lines and power export
issues.

Nepal is waiting for India’s approval on a number of energy export issues.

NEA has been seeking approval from the Indian authorities for selling
electricity to the Indian market on a short-term and long-term basis. There is
also a delay on the part of India to approve NEA’s proposal to export 1,000
MW of electricity from 18 hydel projects.

Nepal has been requesting the southern neighbor for a long-term power trade
deal arguing that an inter-government agreement would lock in the market
and end the unpredictability of the Indian market’s availability for electricity
from Nepal in the long run.

On the other hand, the much-hyped 25-year-long inter-governmental

framework agreement between Nepal and India is yet to be formalized. While
officials of both countries have signed a preliminary power trade agreement
during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent India visit, India is
delaying the signing of the final agreement which would ensure long-term
market access for the Nepal-generated electricity to the Indian market.

The 25-year agreement is an umbrella agreement that will pave the way for
power trading agencies in Nepal and India such as Nepal Electricity Authority
and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) to enter into a long-term
power purchase agreement (PPA). NEA and NVVN will sign a separate
agreement for commercial deals.
The long-term power deal has become paramount importance for Nepal with
the country’s electricity generation capacity gradually increasing. If the market
for Nepali electricity is not ensured, the country faces the risk of electricity
spillage every year, especially during the wet season.
In the rainy season last year, the country’s electricity spillage reached as high
as 800 MW, particularly during the festive period in October and November.
With industrial power demand declining sharply due to the closure of
industries during the holiday season, the domestic energy demand fell to as
low as 700 MW.
Till last year, the total installed capacity of Nepal’s power projects was more
than 2,200 MW while Indian authorities had granted approval to export 364
MW from Nepal.

Nepal’s generation capacity has already reached over 2,700 MW which

requires more exports to India to avoid spillage in the rainy season when
power plants start generating power at their full capacity.

IPPAN in the last week of June blamed the NEA for instructing independent
power producers (IPPs) to reduce the electricity generation capacity of their
plants due to low load demand. According to IPPAN office bearers, 30
hydropower projects have been forced to reduce their power generation
following NEA’s instructions.

Nepal which over a decade ago faced up to 18 hours of power cut daily, has
now reached a position where electricity production has exceeded the
demand and can even export the excess electricity during the rainy season.

However, the problem of power spillage has persisted for the past few years,
which does not bode well for the future of the energy sector, according to
stakeholders. They believe that an imbalance is evident in the energy sector,
particularly concerning production and distribution.

On one hand, NEA asked hydel projects not to operate fully, while on the
other hand, customers, especially those in the industrial sector, have not been
able to get electricity as per their demand. Furthermore, the country still needs
to import electricity from India, particularly during the dry season.

If a long-term solution to the problem of power spillage is not found

immediately, it will not only affect the income of private power companies but
also impact the commercial banks that have invested billions in loans.
Private power producers say that when hydropower projects are not able to
generate electricity at full capacity, their income will be automatically affected.
Since independent power producers have largely constructed hydel projects
through bank loans, they are facing difficulty in paying both the principal and
interest to the banks due to the problem of power spillage.

IPPAN President Ganesh Karki explains that hydropower projects have been
severely affected due to NEA’s decision to stop buying power produced by
private power producers. “The power spillage problem arose after NEA did not
buy the electricity generated from our projects as per the power purchase
agreement,” he said.

Karki emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen and expand the transmission
infrastructure. According to him, the transmission line issue has also hindered
the progress of projects with private investments. As the majority of hydel
projects in Nepal are run-of-the-river type, generating electricity to the
installed capacity during the wet season is crucial for private developers to
maintain income generation. “The lack of transmission line infrastructure has
severely impacted the hydel projects promoted by the private sector. Even
during the wet season, we are not able to generate electricity at full capacity,”
said Karki.

NEA has signed PPAs with the majority of hydel projects on a take-or-pay
model, under which it is obligated to buy the electricity produced by the
projects. If not, NEA has to compensate the projects.

However, due to issues of power spillage and delays in transmission line

construction, the NEA has managed to convince some of the projects to
convert the PPA to a take-and-pay model, in which it will pay only for the
actual quantum of electricity it purchases.

Previously, the country’s transmission line infrastructure could handle power

transmission of 1800 MW. However, with the electricity generation gradually
increasing, the infrastructure is unable to support the increased load.

Currently, there are approximately 9000 megawatts worth of projects under

construction. Projects with a capacity of over 5,000 MW are being developed
by foreign companies, and there are surveys underway for projects with a
capacity of 11,000 MW.
However, the construction of the necessary transmission lines to distribute the
electricity has not been completed. Transmission lines with a capacity of 400
kV have yet to be constructed to supply electricity across the country.

The Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line with a 400 KV

capacity has been constructed to facilitate electricity exchange between India
and Nepal. While there are a dozen cross-border transmission lines between
Nepal and India with 33kV, 132kV, and 400kV capacities, only the Dhalkebar-
Muzaffarpur transmission line has 400kv capacity, which can transport around
1,000 MW. But it is important to note that no other transmission line has been
built within Nepal to supply a large quantity of electricity to that particular
location.

Currently, the Terai region faces a shortage of electricity supply as there is

only a 132 kV transmission line serving the East-West corridor, which cannot
meet the growing demand.

NEA has initiated the construction of two transmission line projects: Inaruwa-
Dhalkebar-Hetauda 400 KV and Hetauda-Bharatpur-Bardghat-New Butwal
220 KV lines. However, the completion of these projects has been delayed
due to obstructions from locals, an interim order from the Supreme Court, and
delays in obtaining tree felling approvals.

The construction of a 400 KV Inaruwa-Dhalkebar-Hetauda line has made

some progress but has not been completed yet. The same is the fate of two
other 400 KV projects – the New Khimti-Bahrabise and Bahrabise-Kathmandu
transmission lines.

Pradeep Kumar Thike, Deputy Executive Director at NEA, acknowledges that

the current problem has arisen due to delays in constructing essential
infrastructure, including transmission lines. “While electricity production and
demand have both increased in recent years, the necessary transmission
infrastructure to handle the increased load has not been built,” he said.

According to Thike, NEA has already commenced the construction of

transmission lines to accommodate the increased load. However, they are
facing numerous challenges, such as local obstacles, court orders, and delays
in obtaining tree-cutting approvals, which have significantly hindered the
progress of the transmission lines. “The impact of this delay is now becoming
evident,” he added.
Thike said electricity cannot be supplied to many industrial areas in Birgunj,
Bhairahawa, and Biratnagar due to a lack of sufficient transmission lines to
bring the produced electricity to the substations and from the substations to
the industries.

“The problem lies in the infrastructure, and we are actively working to

construct the necessary transmission lines, some of which are expected to be
completed in the next few months,” he said.

Mukesh Kafle, former Executive Director of NEA, points out that the current
situation has arisen due to the concerned authorities’ failure to give timely
attention.

“Despite the increasing production and demand for electricity, we have failed
to build the necessary infrastructure to bring the produced electricity to the
market. As the existing infrastructure cannot handle the increased load, we
must expedite the construction of transmission infrastructure to address the
problem,” he said.

According to Kafle, infrastructure cannot be built overnight; it will undoubtedly

take a few years. “However, to expedite the construction process, it is
essential to develop a special plan and strategy to overcome potential
obstacles. If that can be accomplished, this problem will be resolved within a
reasonable timeframe,” he said. “Otherwise, it may escalate into a serious
issue in the near future.”

However, Kafle has a different opinion on electricity export. According to him,

domestic consumption should be given more priority than export. “Various
studies have confirmed that increasing electricity consumption in the country
will contribute more to the economy than exports. Therefore, domestic power
consumption is indispensable to achieve high economic growth,” he said. “We
should consider the Indian and Bangladesh markets as options.

नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरणले समयमै प्रसारण लाइन र सबस्टेसन निर्माण गर्न नसक्दा चालू हिउँ दमा २० जलविद्युत
आयोजनाबाट उत्पादित कु ल १७० मेगावाट विद्युत खेर गइरहेको छ । विद्युत प्रसारण पूर्वाधार नहुँदा यस वर्षको
मनसुनमा रु दुई अर्ब ३२ करोड आम्दानी गुमाउने निजी विद्युत उत्पादकले बताएका छन् ।

स्वतन्त्र उर्जा उत्पादक संघ नेपाल (इप्पान)का अनुसार धेरै उत्पादकले २० देखि ५० प्रतिशत लोड घटाएर विद्युत्
के न्द्र सञ्चालन गर्न बाध्य भएका छन् ।
देशमा जलविद्युत विकासका लागि सरकार र प्राधिकरणले अझै पहल गरिरहेको अवस्थामा प्रसारण लाइनलगायतका
पूर्वाधारका समस्या र भारतले नेपालको विद्युत निर्यात कोटा बढाउन गरेको ढिलाइले जलविद्युत क्षेत्रमा व्यवसाय
दिगोपनको समस्यालाई गम्भीर रूपमा खडा गरेको छ ।

विगत तीन वर्ष नेपाली ऊर्जा क्षेत्रका लागि एकपछि अर्को धेरै विकास र सफलताहरू भएका छन् । विगत दुई
आर्थिक वर्षमा राष्ट्रिय ग्रिडमा १ हजार २२७ मेगावाट थपिँदा भारतमा पनि विद्युत् निर्यात सुरु भएको छ ।

सन् २०२३ को असार मसान्तसम्ममा नेपालको विद्युत उत्पादन क्षमता २७ सय मेगावाट पुगेपछि सरकारले प्रसारण
लाइन र बिजुली निकासीको समस्या समाधान गर्न पहल नगरेमा विद्युत् चुहावट हुन सक्ने गम्भीर चिन्ता छ ।

नेपाल ऊर्जा निर्यातमा भारतको स्वीकृ तिको पर्खाइमा छ । प्राधिकरणले भारतीय बजारमा विद्युत् अल्पकालीन र
दीर्घकालीन रूपमा बिक्री गर्न भारतीय अधिकारीसँग स्वीकृ ति माग गर्दै आएको छ । १८ वटा जलविद्युत्
आयोजनाबाट एक हजार मेगावाट विद्युत् निर्यात गर्ने प्राधिकरणको प्रस्तावलाई स्वीकृ त गर्न पनि भारतको तर्फ बाट
ढिलाइ भएको छ ।

नेपालले दक्षिणी छिमेकीसँग अन्तरसरकारी सम्झौताले बजारमा ताला लगाउने र दीर्घकालीन रूपमा नेपालबाट
भारतीय बजारको उपलब्धताको अप्रत्याशितता अन्त्य गर्ने तर्क गर्दै दीर्घकालीन विद्युत व्यापार सम्झौताका लागि
अनुरोध गर्दै आएको छ ।

अर्कोतर्फ नेपाल र भारतबीच बहुचर्चित २५ वर्ष लामो अन्तरसरकारी ढाँचा सम्झौताको औपचारिकता हुन बाँकी छ ।
प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहालको भर्खरको भारत भ्रमणका क्रममा दुवै देशका अधिकारीले प्रारम्भिक ऊर्जा व्यापार
सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर गरे पनि भारतले नेपालमा उत्पादित विद्युतको दीर्घकालीन बजार पहुँच सुनिश्चित गर्ने अन्तिम
सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर गर्न ढिलाइ गरिरहेको छ ।

२५ वर्षे सम्झौता एउटा छाता सम्झौता हो जसले नेपाल विद्युत प्राधिकरण र एनटीपीसी विद्युत व्यापार निगम
लिमिटेड (NVVN) जस्ता नेपाल र भारतका पावर ट्रेडिङ एजेन्सीहरूलाई दीर्घकालीन विद्युत खरिद सम्झौता (PPA)
गर्न मार्ग प्रशस्त गर्नेछ। NEA र NVVN ले व्यावसायिक सम्झौताका लागि छु ट्टाछु ट्टै सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर गर्नेछन्।

देशको विद्युत उत्पादन क्षमता क्रमशः बढ्दै गएपछि नेपालका लागि दीर्घकालीन ऊर्जा सम्झौता सर्वोपरि भएको छ ।
नेपाली बिजुलीको बजार सुनिश्चित गर्न सकिएन भने देशले हरेक वर्ष विशेषगरी हिउँ दमा बिजुली चुहावटको
जोखिममा पर्ने गरेको छ ।

गत वर्ष वर्षायाममा, विशेष गरी अक्टोबर र नोभेम्बरमा चाडपर्वको समयमा देशको बिजुली चुहावट ८०० मेगावाटसम्म
पुगेको थियो। चाडपर्वमा उद्योगधन्दा बन्द हुँदा औद्योगिक विद्युतको माग ह्वात्तै घटेसँगै आन्तरिक ऊर्जाको माग
७ सय मेगावाटसम्म झरेको हो ।

गत वर्षसम्म नेपालका विद्युत आयोजनाहरूको कु ल स्थापित क्षमता २ हजार २ सय मेगावाटभन्दा बढी थियो भने
भारतीय अधिकारीहरूले नेपालबाट ३ सय ६४ मेगावाट निर्यात गर्न स्वीकृ ति दिएका थिए ।

नेपालको उत्पादन क्षमता २,७०० मेगावाटभन्दा बढी पुगेको छ जसलाई पावर प्लान्टहरूले पूर्ण क्षमतामा विद्युत
उत्पादन गर्न थालेपछि वर्षायाममा चुहावटबाट बच्न भारततर्फ बढी निर्यात गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ।
इपानले असारको अन्तिम साता नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरणलाई कम लोड डिमाण्डका कारण आफ्ना प्लान्टको विद्युत
उत्पादन क्षमता घटाउन स्वतन्त्र ऊर्जा उत्पादक (आईपीपी) लाई निर्देशन दिएको आरोप लगाएको थियो ।
प्राधिकरणको निर्देशनपछि ३० जलविद्युत आयोजनाले विद्युत उत्पादन घटाउन बाध्य पारिएको इपानका
पदाधिकारीले बताए ।

एक दशकअघि दैनिक १८ घण्टासम्म विद्युत् कटौतीको सामना गर्ने नेपाल अहिले मागभन्दा बढी विद्युत् उत्पादन
हुने र वर्षायाममा बढी विद्युत् निर्यात गर्न सक्ने अवस्थामा पुगेको छ ।

तर, विगत के ही वर्षदेखि विद्युत चुहावटको समस्या कायमै रहेकाले ऊर्जा क्षेत्रको भविष्यका लागि राम्रो संके त
नभएको सरोकारवालाहरू बताउँ छन् । ऊर्जा क्षेत्रमा विशेषगरी उत्पादन र वितरणमा असन्तुलन देखिएको उनीहरुको
विश्वास छ ।

एकातिर प्राधिकरणले जलविद्युत आयोजनालाई पूर्णरुपमा सञ्चालन नगर्न भनेको छ भने अर्कोतर्फ विशेषगरी
औद्योगिक क्षेत्रका ग्राहकले मागअनुसारको विद्युत पाउन सके का छै नन् । यसबाहेक, देशले अझै पनि भारतबाट
बिजुली आयात गर्न आवश्यक छ, विशेष गरी सुख्खा मौसममा।

विद्युत चुहावटको समस्याको दीर्घकालीन समाधान तुरुन्तै पत्ता लागेन भने निजी विद्युत कम्पनीको आम्दानी मात्र
नभई वाणिज्य बैंकमा समेत असर पर्ने देखिन्छ ।

विद्युत चुहावटको समस्याको दीर्घकालीन समाधान तत्काल पत्ता लागेन भने निजी विद्युत कम्पनीको आम्दानीमा
मात्रै नभई अर्बौं ऋण लगानी गरेका वाणिज्य बैंकलाई समेत असर पर्ने देखिन्छ ।

जलविद्युत आयोजनाले पूर्ण क्षमतामा विद्युत् उत्पादन गर्न नसके पछि आम्दानीमा स्वतः असर पर्ने निजी विद्युत
उत्पादकहरुको भनाइ छ । स्वतन्त्र ऊर्जा उत्पादकहरूले बैंक ऋणमा जलविद्युत आयोजना निर्माण गरेकाले विद्युत
चुहावटको समस्याले बैंकलाई साँवा र ब्याज दुवै तिर्न समस्या भइरहेको छ ।

नेपाल विद्युत प्राधिकरणले निजी क्षेत्रबाट उत्पादित विद्युत् खरिद रोक्ने निर्णयका कारण जलविद्युत् आयोजना
नराम्ररी प्रभावित भएको इपानका अध्यक्ष गणेश कार्की बताउँ छन् । उनले भने, ‘विद्युत खरिद सम्झौताअनुसार
प्राधिकरणले हाम्रा आयोजनाबाट उत्पादित विद्युत् खरिद नगरेपछि विद्युत चुहावटको समस्या उत्पन्न भएको हो ।

कार्कीले प्रसारण पूर्वाधारलाई सुदृढ र विस्तार गर्नुपर्नेमा जोड दिए । उनका अनुसार प्रशारण लाइनको समस्याले
निजी लगानीका आयोजनाको प्रगतिमा पनि बाधा पुगेको छ । नेपालका अधिकांश जलविद्युत आयोजनाहरू रन अफ
द रिभर प्रकारका भएकाले निजी विकासकर्ताहरूको आय आर्जन कायम राख्न हिउँ दमा स्थापित क्षमताअनुसार
विद्युत् उत्पादन गर्नु महत्त्वपूर्ण हुन्छ। ‘प्रशारण लाइनको पूर्वाधार नहुँदा निजी क्षेत्रले प्रवद्र्धन गरेका जलविद्युत
आयोजनामा नराम्ररी असर परेको छ । हिउँ दमा पनि पूर्ण क्षमतामा विद्युत् उत्पादन गर्न सकिरहेका छै नौँ,’ कार्कीले
भने ।

प्राधिकरणले अधिकांश जलविद्युत आयोजनासँग टेक वा पे मोडेलमा पीपीएमा हस्ताक्षर गरेको छ, जसअन्तर्गत
आयोजनाहरूले उत्पादित विद्युत खरिद गर्न बाध्य छन्। यदि होइन भने, प्राधिकरणले आयोजनाहरूलाई क्षतिपूर्ति
दिनुपर्छ।
तर, विद्युत् चुहावट र प्रसारण लाइन निर्माणमा भएको ढिलाइका कारण प्राधिकरणले के ही आयोजनाहरूलाई
पीपीएलाई टेक एन्ड पे मोडलमा रूपान्तरण गर्न मनाउन सफल भएको छ, जसमा विद्युत्को वास्तविक परिमाणको
मात्रै भुक्तानी हुनेछ। यसले खरिद गर्छ ।

पहिले, देशको प्रसारण लाइन पूर्वाधारले 1800 मेगावाट विद्युत प्रसारण ह्यान्डल गर्न सक्छ। तर, बिजुली उत्पादन
क्रमशः बढ्दै जाँदा पूर्वाधारले बढेको लोडलाई टेवा दिन सके को छै न ।

हाल करिब ९ हजार मेगावाटका आयोजना निर्माणाधीन छन् । ५ हजार मेगावाटभन्दा बढी क्षमताका आयोजना
विदेशी कम्पनीले विकास गर्दै आएका छन् भने ११ हजार मेगावाट क्षमताका आयोजनाको सर्वेक्षण भइरहेको छ ।

तर, विद्युत् वितरणका लागि आवश्यक प्रसारण लाइन निर्माणको काम पूरा हुन सके को छै न । देशभर विद्युत
आपूर्तिका लागि ४०० के भी क्षमताका प्रसारण लाइन निर्माण हुन बाँकी छ ।

नेपाल र भारतबीच विद्युत् आदानप्रदानलाई सहज बनाउन ढल्के बर–मुजफ्फरपुर अन्तरदेशीय प्रसारण लाइन ४००
के भी क्षमताको निर्माण गरिएको हो । नेपाल र भारतबीच ३३ के भी, १३२ के भी र ४०० के भी क्षमताका एक दर्जन
अन्तरदेशीय प्रसारण लाइन रहेका छन् भने ढल्के बर–मुजफ्फरपुर प्रसारण लाइनमा मात्रै ४०० के भी क्षमता छ, जसले
करिब १ हजार मेगावाट विद्युत् ढु वानी गर्न सक्छ। तर त्यो विशेष स्थानमा ठू लो परिमाणमा विद्युत् आपूर्ति गर्न
नेपालभित्र अन्य कु नै प्रसारण लाइन निर्माण भएको छै न भन्ने कु रा ध्यान दिनु जरुरी छ ।

हाल तराई क्षेत्रमा पूर्व–पश्चिम करिडोरमा १३२ के भीको मात्र प्रसारण लाइन रहेकाले बढ्दो माग पूरा गर्न नसक्ने
भएकाले विद्युत आपूर्तिको अभाव छ ।

प्राधिकरणले इनरुवा–ढल्के बर–हेटौँडा ४०० के भी र हेटौँडा–भरतपुर–बर्दघाट–नयाँ बुटवल २२० के भी गरी दुई प्रसारण लाइन
आयोजनाको निर्माण सुरु गरेको छ । तर, स्थानीयको अवरोध, सर्वोच्चको अन्तरिम आदेश र रुख कटानको
स्वीकृ तिमा भएको ढिलाइका कारण यी आयोजना सम्पन्न हुन ढिलाइ भएको हो ।

४०० के भी इनरुवा–ढल्के बर–हेटौंडा लाइन निर्माणको काम के ही प्रगति भए पनि पूरा हुन सके को छै न । नयाँ खिम्ती–
बाह्रबिसे र बाह्रबिसे–काठमाडौं प्रसारण लाइन गरी दुई चार सय के भी आयोजनाको अवस्था पनि उस्तै छ ।

प्राधिकरणका उपकार्यकारी निर्देशक प्रदीपकु मार थिके ले प्रसारण लाइनलगायत अत्यावश्यक पूर्वाधार निर्माणमा भएको
ढिलाइका कारण अहिलेको समस्या आएको स्वीकार गर्छ न् । ‘पछिल्ला वर्षमा विद्युत उत्पादन र माग दुवै बढे पनि
बढेको भारलाई सम्हाल्ने आवश्यक प्रसारण पूर्वाधार निर्माण हुन सके को छै न,’ उनले भने ।

थिके का अनुसार प्राधिकरणले बढेको भार मिलाउन प्रसारण लाइन निर्माणको काम सुरु गरिसके को छ । तर, उनीहरूले
स्थानीय अवरोध, अदालतको आदेश, रुख काट्ने स्वीकृ ति प्राप्त गर्नमा भएको ढिलाइजस्ता थुप्रै चुनौतीहरूको सामना
गरिरहेका छन्, जसले प्रसारण लाइनको प्रगतिमा ठू लो बाधा पु¥याएको छ । ‘यस ढिलाइको असर अहिले प्रस्ट हुँदै
गएको छ,’ उनले थपे।

उत्पादित बिजुली सबस्टेसनमा पु¥याउन र सवस्टेशनबाट विद्युत् पुर्‍याउन पर्याप्त प्रसारण लाइन नहुँदा वीरगन्ज,
भैरहवा र विराटनगरका धेरै औद्योगिक क्षेत्रमा विद्युत् आपूर्ति हुन नसके को थिके ले बताए ।
"समस्या पूर्वाधारमा छ, र हामी आवश्यक प्रसारण लाइनहरू निर्माण गर्न सक्रिय रूपमा काम गरिरहेका छौं, जसमध्ये
के ही अबको के ही महिनामा पूरा हुने अपेक्षा गरिएको छ," उनले भने।

प्राधिकरणका पूर्व कार्यकारी निर्देशक मुके श काफ्लेले सम्बन्धित निकायले समयमै ध्यान नदिएको कारण यस्तो
अवस्था आएको बताउँ छन् ।

‘विद्युतको उत्पादन र माग बढ्दै गए पनि उत्पादित बिजुली बजारमा ल्याउन आवश्यक पूर्वाधार निर्माण गर्न सके का
छै नौं । विद्यमान पूर्वाधारले बढेको भार सम्हाल्न नसक्ने भएकाले समस्या समाधानका लागि प्रसारण पूर्वाधार
निर्माणलाई तीव्रता दिनुपर्छ ,’ उनले भने ।

काफ्लेका अनुसार रातारात पूर्वाधार निर्माण हुन सक्दैन । यसले निस्सन्देह के ही वर्ष लाग्नेछ। ‘यद्यपि निर्माण
प्रक्रियालाई तीव्रता दिन सम्भावित अवरोध हटाउन विशेष योजना र रणनीति बनाउन जरुरी छ । यदि त्यसो गर्न
सकियो भने यो समस्या उचित समयसीमा भित्रै समाधान हुन्छ,’ उनले भने । "अन्यथा, निकट भविष्यमा यो गम्भीर
मुद्दामा बढ्न सक्छ।"

तर, बिजुली निकासीमा काफ्ले फरक मत राख्छन् । उनका अनुसार निर्यातभन्दा स्वदेशी उपभोगलाई बढी प्राथमिकता
दिनुपर्छ । “विभिन्न अध्ययनले मुलुकमा बढ्दो विद्युत् खपतले निर्यातभन्दा अर्थतन्त्रमा बढी योगदान पु¥याउने
पुष्टि गरेको छ । त्यसैले उच्च आर्थिक वृद्धि हासिल गर्न आन्तरिक विद्युत खपत अपरिहार्य छ,’ उनले भने ।
“हामीले भारत र बंगलादेशको बजारलाई विकल्पको रूपमा विचार गर्नुपर्छ ।

UrjaKhabar

 जलविद्युतमा आजसम्म निजी क्षेत्रले १ सय २० अर्ब रुपैयाँभन्दा बढी लगानी

गरिसके को छ । अहिले नै ६ खर्ब रुपैयाँ खोलामा हालिरहेको छ । हजारौंले
रोजगारी पाएका छन् । अर्को ४–५ वर्षमा थप ६–७ खर्ब रुपैयाँ आउने देखिन्छ ।

ती सरकारी बार भत्काउँ दै, छल्दै र कहिले तिनको भोटे–ताल्चा खोल्दै निजी क्षेत्रले
काम गर्दै आएको छ । सरकारले १ सय ८ वर्षमा हासिल गरेको उपलब्धि निजी
क्षेत्रले २७ वर्षमै देखायो । जलविद्युतमा आजसम्म निजी क्षेत्रले १ सय २० अर्ब
 रुपैयाँभन्दा बढी लगानी गरिसके को छ । अहिले नै ६ खर्ब रुपैयाँ खोलामा
हालिरहेको छ । हजारौंले रोजगारी पाएका छन् । अर्को ४–५ वर्षमा थप ६–७ खर्ब
रुपैयाँ आउने देखिन्छ ।

 आज सरकार र निजी क्षेत्रको विद्युत उत्पादन बराबरी छ । यसले विद्युत संकट

अन्त्य गर्न खेलेको भूमिका, राज्यको ढु कु टीमा थपेको रोयल्टी, कर तथा रोजगारी
सिर्जनाको योगदान प्रशंसनीय छ । यो पक्षलाई सरकारले महत्त्व दिएको पाइएन ।
सम्झौं, आज निजी क्षेत्रले उत्पादन गरेको विद्युत नभएको भए अवस्था के हुन्थ्यो
?
 दशकौंसम्म जलविद्युत निर्माणमा वन, वातावरण र जग्गाका समस्या उही छन् ।

प्रसारण लाइन निर्माणमा जग्गा अधिग्रहणको पाटो अझ पेचिलो हुँदैछ । स्वदेशी र

विदेशी कम्पनीबीच विद्युत खरिद प्रक्रिया र मूल्य विभेदकारी छ । विधेयकले यी
पक्षलाई सम्बोधन गरेको भए नीति निर्माणमा सरकार एक कदम अघि बढेको
महसुस हुन्थ्यो ।
