NEA may not be able to import power from India this winter season
The chief of the state-owned electricity monopoly has revealed that it may not be possible to import power from India this winter season.
Arjun Bahadur Karki, Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has said that because of delay in the construction of sub-station in the Indian side, the power import may not be possible.
The NEA has already said that during forthcoming winter season it will suffer from big shortfall in power and, thus, will be compelled to impose crippling hours of load-shedding.
"We have already requested Indian Embassy to expedite the construction of the sub-station. However, if the current pace of construction continues, it would not be ready for the winter months," Karki told Nepal 1 TV.
The NEA has already signed an agreement with India's Power Trading Corporation (PTC) to import 50 MW of power during the winter months. That power would have been used to fulfill domestic demand and to do away with load-shedding.
During winter months, almost all of the hydro projects in the country run in very low capacity since they are of the run-of-the-river type. In winter, rivers run dry affecting their capacity. nepalnews.com sd Oct 24 06