Nepal Infrastructure 
KATHMANDU: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is coming up with a plan to strengthen the Transmission Line (TL) and distribution system to boost the domestic consumption of electricity. The NEA, the sole power distributor, is also expanding TL infrastructure to export electricity to India and Bangladesh.
A high-level team headed from NEA headed by its Executive Director Kulman Ghising visited Sunsari, Morang, and Jhapa to study currently operational and necessary additional TL infrastructures to facilitate domestic consumption and cross-border trade of electricity.
The team conducted a field study regarding the feasibility of construction of TL up to West Bengal of India, the shortest route to evacuate electricity to Bangladesh, and the appropriate location for the construction of the necessary substation. The NEA is targeting the Sunsari, Morang, and Jhapa districts of Province 1 where the chances of increasing power consumption are very high.
The NEA has launched a campaign with short-term and long-term electricity consumption promotion plans along with strengthening and expanding infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of power. “ For long-term export of electricity to India and Bangladesh, we saw Silgudi, Purniya, and Kishangunj at the nearest points.
It is necessary to develop 400 KV TL through the Inaruwa substation to the Anarmani substation. This line will support trading of electricity with both countries,” he said. The team also visited the Binagudi substation of Silgudi of India and discuss the prospect of exporting electricity with concerned Indian officials.
The NEA is taking a policy to provide electricity as demanded by the industries and speed up the construction of hydropower projects under construction. In a bid to boost consumption, the NEA is also exploring areas that can consume more electricity. The team has also interacted with local business people of the Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari districts.
