NEA aims to increase electricity consumption in Madhesh-Terai, steps up infrastructure construction

Kathmandu; Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is upgrading transmission lines in a number of Terai-based districts, targeting to increase electricity consumption in local areas.

In its plan, NEA aims to promote consumption of up to 4,000 MW of electricity in Madhesh Province alone by 2050. For this purpose, the state-owned power utility has stepped up to build a high-powered transmission line corridor in the region.

In this regard, a team of high-ranking officials including NEA’s Managing Director Kulman Ghising and experts concerned visited proposed construction locations on Saturday and Sunday, according to the NEA. The infrastructure construction is expected to help increase domestic consumption along with facilitating energy export to a number of Indian towns that include Motihari, Sitamadi and Jayanagar, among others.

Ghising said they will be constructing transmission lines and substations in the first phase. “In the second phase, we will be building main lines at the southern corridor which will be followed by construction of cross-border transmission lines,” he said.

In its plan, the NEA will construct four-circuit transmission lines and substations alongside the postal highway that lies near the Nepal-India border. While the two upper circuit lines will be built at 400 kV, the other two on the lower level will have a capacity of 132 kV. Related substations will be built to maintain smooth electricity supply in local areas.

Out of targeted energy, 3,200 MW will be supplied to Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor of Birgunj and remaining 800 MW will be made available in Janakpur area. Ghising said they will construct the necessary infrastructure for this purpose.

NEA said it has already acquired land in Prasauni of Bara district to construct 132 kV substations while a similar one is under construction in Loharpatti of Mahottari district. Likewise, the construction of transmission lines in Dhalkebar-Banganga has been started.

The upgradation of transmission lines and construction of substations will cost over Rs 50 billion. According to Ghising, the funds will be managed from the investment of the government and NEA, loans from EXIM Bank of India and concessional loans of the Asian Development Bank.