The country will be fully electrified within a year or one and a half year, says PM Dahal

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has said that 98 percent of the population has access to electricity so far. He said this while inaugurating the Marsyangdi-Kathmandu 220 KV transmission line and Matatirtha 220 KV substation on Sunday at Chandragiri in Kathmandu.

He also said that all the needful preparations have been done for 100 percent electrification within one year and half to come. Action plan related to the increase in electricity consumption has been passed by the Council of Ministers and is being implemented so that the produced hydropower is consumed within the country.

Electric vehicles have been promoted and use of EVs is extended almost across the country. Thus use of electricity has been increased in the transportation sector as well. This has resulted in reducing the import bill for the fossil fuels to some extent.

Prime Minister Prachanda said that the beautiful mountains of Nepal have been affected by the negative effects of climate change. Similarly, climate change has also affected Nepal’s hydropower production, he added.

“In order to consume electricity generated within the country, the government of Nepal is implementing an action plan related to the increase of electricity consumption after passing it by the Council of Ministers,” he stated. In the transport sector, which is considered to be an important source of electricity consumption, the use of electric vehicles has not only increased across the country, but it has also led to a decline in the import of petroleum products.

He said that charging stations are being installed across the country by the government and private sectors.

The Prime Minister said that there is a big problem in the use of forest area, tree felling and land acquisition for transmission line expansion. He said that it is necessary to advance the plans so that the balance between development and environment is maintained.

The inaugurated sub-station is constructed in Chandragiri Municipality-8. This is the largest substation hub for electricity supply in Kathmandu Valley with a capacity of 220/132 KV, 320 MVA. The substation serves Masryangdi-Kathmandu 220kV double circuit transmission line and 220kV Matatirtha substation, built to bring electricity from Masryangdi river basin to the Kathmandu.