NEA imposes partial load-shedding in industries

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 25: Partial load shedding has been imposed in the industrial sector because of insufficient power supply. 

Issuing a public notice on Wednesday, Nepal Electricity Authority said that due to the dry weather and the lack of expected electricity production within the country and imports from India, there were challenges in managing electricity supply, which compelled it to reduce electricity supply to the industrial sector.

However, it said that every possible effort was being made to solve the partial load shedding now imposed in the industrial sector.

According to the Authority, an average of 1,175 megawatts of electricity is currently being generated across the country from hydropower and solar energy. 

However, demand is increasing and it reaches about 2,077 megawatts during peak times. 

Due to this, there is a huge gap between supply and demand, which has to be met by relying on imports from India, it said.

"Nepal has been unable to purchase as much electricity as it wanted due to the surge in electricity demand in India with the onset of summer. Currently, the demand for electricity is high in India also due to the Indian Premier League. Therefore, even though the NEA is ready to pay the high price, Nepal has not been able to import the required amount," said the NEA.

Nepal has received permission from India through the Power Exchange Committee (PEC) to supply a maximum of 350 MW of electricity through the 132 kV line from 6:00 AM to 6:00 AM, but currently only 50 MW of electricity is being supplied through the Mainaiya Sampatiya line from 6:00 AM to 6:00 AM and from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. 

Due to increased power demand during the ongoing IPL in India, the IEX rate is higher than the PEC rate, so despite maximum efforts, electricity has not been received from the 132 kV line connected to Bihar, said the NEA.

The electricity is being purchased through the Indian Exchange Market (IEX) from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM and from 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM. However, even when trying to purchase at the maximum price set between 11:00 PM and 4:00 AM, Nepal is also supplied on a pro-rata basis, resulting in very little electricity being received compared to demand.

Due to the above reasons, there has been some difficulty in power management and although partial load has been given to the industrial sector for some time, maximum efforts have been made to manage demand and supply, read the statement. 

The Authority has claimed that it hopes that the flow of water in the rivers will increase in the near future and that the problem will be resolved soon as supply from India is likely to be easier.