Interaction Program on Transmission Network System of Nepal
Organized by
Energy Development Council
Location: Babermahal Revisited, Babarmahal
Date
March 15, 2017
The past month has been marked by important milestones in Energy Development Council (EDC), extending a broader reach and promoting understanding within the energy sector and community.
On March 15, 2017 (Wednesday), EDC hosted an Interaction Program on Transmission Network System of Nepal at Kathmandu. The discussion included talks from various stakeholders in the energy sector of Nepal, including officials from Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), World Bank and IPPs (Independent Power Producers). The program was started with an outline on the current power scenario of Nepal by the current Managing Director of NEA Mr Kul Man Ghising.
On the program, NEA highlighted the current structure of the transmission network in Nepal. As part of its strategy to optimise the energy grid, NEA has identified and planned six cross-border Interconnection corridors and 11 transmission lines, with a proposed 22,000 MW generation within 2035. A review is in process and will study the requirements and feasibility of major transmission projects such as East-West transmission highway of 400 kV and 765 kV, Mid-hill transmission corridors of 400 and 220 kV and North-South corridors of 220 and 400 kV.
Mr. Rabin Shrestha, Energy Specialist of World Bank also expressed his desire to extend aid and cooperate with all concerned stakeholders should the transmission project go ahead as planned. He also suggested that if a benefit sharing mechanism is provided to the local communities by the transmission line project owners, then there would be more cooperation in the local community level in the construction of the transmission line.
IPPs also put forward issues on the discrimination by NEA while evacuating power and the differing compensations rates for different hydropower projects, ranging from 40 percent to 90 percent. As such, IPPs called for NEA to be more transparent and equal to power producing companies. They also called for the ending of special provisions for the transmission lines to foreign producers while not providing such for national producers. Dr Ghimire, MD of Liberty Energy Co. Ltd, stressed the need for a stable policy and a more coherent approach from NEA. He gave the example where the construction of a double circuit instead of a single circuit could evacuate more energy and avoid duplication. He further said that IPPs are ready to adopt BOOT model or even take the responsibility in land acquisition and procurement, if NEA would allow. He said that IPPs are ready to adopt any favourable modality and open to help NEA built transmission lines.
Download the presentation here.
EDC
Contact us
P.O. Box no. 516,
Heritage Plaza II (Block C & D)
Kamaladi, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977-1-4169116 / 117
Fax: +977-1-4169118
E-mail: info@edcnepal.org
Website : www.edcnepal.org
