Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Three umbrella organizations representing manufacturing industries have accused the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) of undermining the country’s industrial sector by imposing unscheduled power cuts.
At a joint press conference in Kathmandu, the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nepal (CMAN), Nepal Steel Rolling Mills Association (NSRMA), and Nepal Yarn Producers Association (NYPA) demanded that the NEA publish a load-shedding schedule if it cannot ensure uninterrupted power supply to industries. The associations revealed that industries are enduring power cuts of up to 12 hours a day, despite the NEA’s claim of eradicating load-shedding since 2018.
NSRMA President Rajesh Agrawal Neupane stated that industries are experiencing power cuts lasting as long as 14 hours. “Even when power is available, the voltage is consistently low,” Neupane said, adding that unscheduled outages have increased production costs by up to Rs 10 per kilogram.
Similarly, cement industry representative Dhruba Thapa highlighted that cement plants are operating at less than 50% capacity due to inadequate power supply. “This is the peak season for cement production, but we are unable to run our plants at full capacity due to power shortages,” he said.
The associations also criticized the NEA for failing to implement the recommendations of the Lal Commission, which were approved by the cabinet, to address issues related to dedicated feeders and trunk lines.
NYPA President Shashikant Agrawal echoed these concerns, stating that unscheduled power cuts have severely impacted manufacturing industries. “The lack of reliable electricity is crippling our operations and increasing costs,” he added.
The industry groups have called for immediate action from the NEA to resolve the power supply issues and support the growth of Nepal’s industrial sector.
