Industries to see power cuts in the evening

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has announced that industries will face power cuts in the evening until the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, which was damaged by floods in late September, resumes operation.

NEA Executive Director Kul Man Ghising said the NEA has been facing difficulty in managing electricity supply as power generation by the 456-MW Upper Tamaoshi, the largest capacity hydropower project connected to the national grid, has been affected since the last week of September.

According to NEA, water flow in rivers decreases during winter, reducing the generation of run-of-river (ROR) hydropower projects to one-third of their capacity. Since NEA cannot import electricity from India during peak evening hours (5 PM to 9 PM), the utility said it has no option but to cut the power supply to the industrial sector.

Repair works are underway to bring Upper Tamakoshi back into operation within a week, Ghising said.

To manage the demand for power in the winter season, NEA is allowed to import 654 MW from India via Dhalkebar-Muzaafarpur 400 kV cross-border transmission line and 54 MW from Mahendranagar-Mahendranagar 132 kV transmission line till March 15. However, NEA cannot import power between 5 pm to 9 pm. From March 16 till June 30, it is allowed to import from
6 am to 6 pm.