By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 31: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has emphasised the use of domestically generated electricity by reducing the consumption of imported fuel to make the national economy self-reliant.
Inaugurating the electric vehicle rally organised on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) on Saturday, Minister Bhusal said that there was no alternative to increasing the use of electricity to reduce the growing trade deficit.

Every year, the country spends over Rs. 200 billion on petroleum imports, including cooking gas.
She said that increasing the consumption of electricity for industry, transportation and household purposes would not lead to wastage of electricity but would rather contribute to the national economy.
Minister Bhusal said that the government had given high priority to the promotion of electric vehicles and that the use of electric vehicles should be increased to reduce the problems caused by climate change and create employment opportunities in the country.
She said that the present government would gradually reduce the customs for the import and promotion of electric vehicles in the country.
“When the use of electric vehicles increases, a huge amount will be saved by consuming domestically generated power and reducing the import of petroleum products,” she said.
Stating that electricity cost should be less than the imported fuel, she said that the government has been reducing the electricity tariff to encourage the use of electric appliances, including electric vehicles.
Minister Bhusal added that the government would provide further assistance to firms that are prepared to assemble electric automobiles in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Sagar Kumar Rai pointed out the need for emphasis on the use of electric vehicles by the government, private sector and the general public as electric vehicles are environmentally friendly, comfortable for passengers and increase electricity consumption.
Dr. Madhusudhan Adhikari, Executive Director of the AEPC, said that the Centre had been emphasising on environment protection and promotion of clean energy.
Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kul Man Ghising said that about 450 megawatts of electricity was being wasted daily and the amount of wastage power would increase in the days to come.
The charging stations are being constructed at various places to encourage the use of electric vehicles to increase the consumption of electricity, he said.