The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has initiated homework to end load-shedding in the Kathmandu Valley and three other cities in neighbouring Kavre district. 

NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising on Monday formed a high-level expert committee under the leadership of Deputy Managing Director Rajeev Sharma to study the possibility of providing uninterrupted electricity supply in these places.

The panel also includes the chiefs of the NEA’s planning, distribution and transmission and power trading departments. It is planning to complete the study and submit a report by the end of next week. Sharma’s team will also analyse demand and supply management before making a recommendation. 

The NEA will implement the recommendations to eliminate load-shedding in the Valley, which has become a fact of life in the country. “Till date, no study has been done to identify the constraints that need to be resolved to ensure 24-hour electricity supply in the Valley,” said Ghising. “The outcome of the study will be a guideline for the authority in the coming days.” 

According to Sharma, they will first figure out the amount of electricity deficit the Valley is currently facing. “Then we will look for ways to optimize the substations and distribution network in the Valley,” said Sharma. “We will begin the study on Thursday.” 

Committee member Prabal Adhikari, who is the chief of the power trading department at the NEA, said that power cuts in the Valley could be reduced significantly if the existing resources were put to optimum use. 

“Some of our substations are overloaded while others are underloaded,” said Adhikari. “An equitable distribution of the load can reduce power cuts significantly.” 

Likewise, upgradation of the existing distribution system including addition of new transformers will also contribute to slashing power cuts, he added. 

The NEA was successful in arranging uninterrupted power supply in the Kathmandu Valley during the recent Tihar festival. “We put in a little effort and the Valley didn’t witness load-shedding during the festive season,” said Adhikari. “It has given us confidence.”      

Apart from managing the supply, the committee will also explore the possibility of generating additional power in the Valley. According to Adhikari, the NEA has received 15 proposals from the private sector to produce electricity from various sources like solar, thermal, diesel and geo-thermal plants. 

“Using these means, electricity can be generated quickly,” said Adhikari. “Therefore, we will consider some of the proposals that we have received.”   

Similarly, the committee will recommend using power imported from India to reduce load-shedding. Adhikari also clarified that uninterrupted power supply in the Valley will not increase load-shedding elsewhere in the country.