Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has announced that electricity supply to industrial areas will face partial cuts during evening peak hours until power generation resumes from the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project.
With the onset of winter, water levels in rivers and streams have significantly decreased, reducing the production capacity of run-of-river (ROR) hydropower projects by one-third. As domestic hydropower generation drops and electricity imports from India are restricted during peak hours, NEA is compelled to implement temporary power cuts for industrial consumers.
NEA’s Executive Director Kulman Ghising stated that despite the challenges during peak hours, power supply to non-industrial consumers will remain unaffected. “There is no need to cut power for regular consumers, but industrial sectors will face partial cuts during evening peak hours,” he clarified.
The Upper Tamakoshi project, Nepal’s largest hydropower plant, suffered damage due to heavy rainfall on September 28-29. Repair works are ongoing, and the project is expected to resume power production by December 25, 2024, with full operation during peak hours within 15 days. NEA plans to store water during off-peak hours to ensure full-capacity operation of the plant during the crucial four-hour evening peak window.
Indian Electricity Imports and Restrictions
Nepal currently imports up to 654 MW of electricity from India, including 600 MW via the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur 400 kV cross-border line and 54 MW through the Tanakpur-Mahendranagar 132 kV transmission line. However, India has restricted electricity imports during peak hours (5 PM to 9 PM), further straining Nepal’s energy management.
From March 16, 2025, to June 30, 2025, imports will only be permitted during solar hours (6 AM to 6 PM), making evening peak hour management challenging.
Power Cuts in Industrial Areas
Ghising highlighted the dual impact of the Upper Tamakoshi outage and restricted Indian imports during peak hours. “If Upper Tamakoshi were operational, we could have imported more electricity during the day, stored water, and operated the plant during peak hours. Until its repair is completed, industrial areas will face partial power cuts in the evening,” he explained.
Transmission Line Challenges
Additionally, on Friday morning, electricity supply to the Bara-Parsa industrial corridor was disrupted after a conductor of the Dhalkebar-Nawalpur 132 kV transmission line snapped. Repair work restored power supply by Monday afternoon.
Likewise, a tree fell on a section of the 132 kV Chamelia-Attariya transmission line near Baitadi’s Khochlek area, damaging one circuit. Repair work is currently underway to restore the line.
NEA remains committed to minimizing disruptions and ensuring uninterrupted power supply to regular consumers while addressing the challenges posed by winter power shortages.
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