Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal has said that dialogue is being held with India for exporting electricity that could not be consumed in Nepal. She also called on the private sector to invest in hydropower.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 220/132 KV New Butwal substation constructed in Sunwal Municipality-13 of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta-West) on Thursday, Minister Bhusal said, The environment has been created, the electricity being produced now is being wasted in the hurricane, for which there is a need to trade in the international market.
Minister Bhusal stressed the rising prices of petroleum products and the use of electronic devices to solve the energy crisis. She expressed confidence that the construction of the New Butwal substation would solve the problem of power outages and help in quality electricity consumption.
Nepal Electricity Authority Executive Director Kulman Ghising said that the New Butwal substation was constructed with the loan assistance of the Government of Nepal and the Asian Development Bank.
He said that the existing structures up to 132 and 220 KV will provide connectivity to the Kushma substation in Parbat, Bharatpur substation in Chitwan, Butwal substation in Rupandehi and Bardaghat substation.
Electricity generated from the Kaligandaki River and its adjoining rivers in Mustang, Myagdi, and Parbat districts will be brought to this substation through the Kushma substation and supplied to other connected substations.
In the coming days, the New Butwal substation will be expanded and 33 and 11 KV structures will be prepared to provide quality and reliable electricity service to the developing industrial customers and domestic consumers in the area said local director Kulman Ghising. .
The 400 KV structure to be built along with this substation will pave the way for exporting Nepal’s electricity to India through interstate transmission lines, said New Butwal Substation Project Chief Viswaranjan Mishra.
The construction of the substation, which started in November 2017, has been completed at a cost of Rs 1.5 billion, said project chief Mishra.
