Kathmandu, June 24: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet has said the government has targeted to produce 28,000 megawatts of electricity in coming 12 years considering the projection of demand for power, energy security and other issues.
The Energy Development Framework and Action Plan has been implemented to ensure capacity building for transmission and distribution line for this matter, Minister Basnet said responding to the lawmakers’ questions in today’s House of Representatives (HoR) meeting.
On the occasion, Minister Basnet said 463 megawatts of power was added to the national system so far in the current fiscal year and some 98 per cent people in the country have access to the power supply. He added that some 900 megawatts of electricity is expected to be added to the national system in the upcoming fiscal year.
He shared that Rasuwagadhi project, Upper Shenzen project, Mid Bhotekoshi project and other projects are expected to begin power production in the coming fiscal year.
The power produced within the country will be sufficient to meet the domestic demand even in the dry season after the next year and the surplus power will be exported, which will serve to reduce the country’s trade deficit, according to the Energy Minister.
Furthermore, Minister Basnet said the government’s programmes are oriented to replace fossil-fuelled vehicles with EVs.In his speech, Minister Basnet reiterated that final preparations are ongoing for the export of 40 megawatt of electricity to Bangladesh.
Likewise, he said that internal and cross-border transmission lines are being constructed to ensure a reliable power supply. The development of the reservoir-based hydropower projects has been advanced adding that West Seti, Seti River-6, Lower Arun and other projects have advanced as per the project development agreements.
Minister Basnet also assured the lawmakers to advance the development of Marsyangdi Hydropower Project adding that the budget and its modality have been confirmed for the project.
