Nation»
Ooh! 37,000 MW in 20 yrs
- ‘Security a must for that’
KATHMANDU, JUL 14 -
If the law and order situation remains favourable, the country can produce 37,628 MW electricity in the next 20 years, claims a government report.
Released here on Wednesday, the report on 20-Year Hydropower Development Plan prepared by a group of officials from the Ministry of Energy (MoE) has set the new target of constructing over two dozen hydropower projects. The report, however, is emphatic that “strong law and order situation” is a must to build new hydro power projects.
Speaking at a programme organised to release the report, Kishore Thapa, study coordinator and secretary of Water and Energy Commission Secretariat under MoE, said that given the present scale of development of infrastructure facilities, work mechanism on feasibility studies and development of hydroelectric projects, the government is likely to generate more than 35,000 MW within 20 years.
The target is achievable if taken a leaf out of mega project’s book (Pancheshwor, Karnali-Chisapani and Saptakoshi High Dam), the report maintains. However, without concerted efforts to minimise the risks and problems such as protests, land acquisition, local demands and political interference and adequate funding while constructing hydropower projects, the government’s plan may bite the dust, the report says.
It has proposed generation of 2,057 MW in five years with 1,887 MW for internal consumption and 170 MW for export. Among the under construction projects expected to be completed in next five years are Chameliya (30 MW), Kulekhani III (14 MW), Upper Trishuli 3A (60 MW) and Upper Seti (128 MW).
Similarly other projects ready for construction are Upper Sanjen, Sanjen, Upper Tamakoshi, Middle Bhotekoshi, Tamakoshi-5 and Upper Tamakoshi-A, the report further said.
Commenting on the report, Energy Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat said the present political transition is not favourable for foreign power developers to invest in Nepal’s hydro sector. “Nepal is not yet seen as a safe destination for investment by foreign developers,” he said. “We need to move forward chalking out effective strategies and work plan for hydropower development.”
Meanwhile, the report has stressed the need to bring immediate, short-term and long-term strategies for the promotion of alternative energy to power rural areas having no access to the national grid for electricity.
GOVT REPORTSPEAK
37,625 MW power generation in 20 yrs
Rs 2520.83 billion budget required
No. of projects: Over two dozens
2,057 MW in next five years
Posted on: 2010-07-15 08:35
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