The Nepal Weekly 
August 27, 2024
Nepal has improved significantly in electricity generation by hydropower projects and also alternative technologies including Solar Photo Voltaic. The electricity generation has been 3,157 megawatts as installed capacity so far and electricity consumption has been extended to three times in eight years as In the fiscal year 2015/16, the country consumed 3.72 billion units of electricity. By the fiscal year 2023/24, this figure had soared to 10.02 billion units. This significant rise marks a turnaround from a period of negative growth in electricity consumption.
Residential users are now the largest consumers, using 4.31 billion units, followed by industrial users at 3.69 billion units. Per capita electricity consumption has risen from 131 units eight years ago to 400 units today.
The country’s total installed electricity generation capacity has reached 3,157 megawatts. Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kulman Ghising said this recently. He further said that the total connected capacity has reached 3,157 megawatts through the organization of the subsidiary companies of the authority and the private sector. He mentioned the progress chart recently on 11th August.
NEA says that hydroelectric power accounts for 95 percent of the electricity capacity, i.e., 2991 megawatts. According to Ghising, thermal energy is 53 megawatts, solar energy is 107 megawatts and biomass energy is 6 megawatts.
The authority claims that 2,300 megawatts have been added in the last eight years alone. Ghising also said that 1706 megawatts have been added in the last 3 years alone. Chandan Ghosh, spokesperson of the Authority, said that 500 MW of electricity is being exported every day. Ghosh said that the current high demand for electricity is 2650 MW. He stated that the total electricity connected capacity of the authority, its subsidiary companies and the private sector has reached 2991 megawatts.
According to the Nepal Electricity Status 2024, – Metropolitan Cities, Sub Metropolitan Cities, Municipalities and Rural Municipalities – in Nepal, 539 have been fully electrified, Nepal Electricity. The utility institution further says that 196 local levels have been partially electrified. Moreover, at 18 local levels, the authority has not been able to deliver electricity by the national grid.
According to the NEA, 18 local level residents who are not connected to the national transmission grid are consuming electricity from micro hydropower and solar pv systems.
The Electrification Statistics, 2081 prepared by the NEA after a detailed study on the local levels and municipal wards across the country, 99 percent of the total population has been accessed to electricity. That counts electricity customers including community have reached 5.935 million households.
As per the authority’s data, 97 percent of the population that has access to electricity is consuming electricity from the national grid and 2 percent from micro hydropower, solar pv systems, etc. that are off grid locations.
Out of 753 local levels, 590 local levels have been electrified from 95 to 100 percent. 72 local levels have been electrified up to 75-95 percent. It is reported that electrification has been done in 33 percent local levels up to 50-75 percent, 26 local levels up to 25-50 percent and 32 local levels up to 0-25 percent.
The report further elaborates that Madhesh Provice has 100% electrification. Kasho has 99.30 percent, Bagmati has 99.97 percent, Gandaki has 99.40 percent and 98.49 percent in Lumbini. Karnali Province has the lowest electrification counting 74.38 percent only while 86.58 percent electrification has been done in Sudurpaschim Province.
Out of 77 districts, Humla is yet to reach the national transmission grid. Electricity is being supplied in Humla including micro hydropower, solar power. Out of 77 districts, 56 districts have 95 to 100 percent electrification. 75-95% electrification in 10 districts, 50-75% in five districts and 25-50% in 6 districts.
Similarly, 95 percent electrification has been achieved 14 districts of Koshi Pradesh. However, Solukhumbu and Sankhuwasabha have achieved less electrification. Solukhumbu has 89.04 percent and Sankhuvasabha has 93.99 percent electrification. Remarkably, 100% electrification has been done in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari and Dhankuta. Eight districts of Madhesh province have been completely electrified.
Among the 13 districts of Bagmati Province, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Ramechhap, Nuwakot and Chitwan have been electrified 100%. More than 95 percent electrification has been done in the rest of the districts.
Out of 11 districts of Gandaki province, 87.81 percent electrification has been done in Manang. In Tanahun, Syangja, Parbat and Kaski, 100 percent electrification has been done, while in the rest of the districts, more than 95 percent electrification has been done.
Among the 12 districts of Lumbini region, Rukum East has the least electrification ie 32.24 percent and Rolpa has only 85 percent electrification. Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi and Bardia have got 100% electrification. More than 95 percent electrification has been done in remaining districts.
Rukum West of Karnali Province has the highest electrification ie 95.08 percent and Mugu the lowest ie 31.80. 86.48% in Surkhet, 81.05% in Dailekh, 79.50% in Salyan, 49.80% in Jajarkot, 70.96% in Calikot, 62.47% in Jumla, 42.75% in Dolpa and 32.51% in Humla.
Out of the nine districts of Sudurpaschim Province, Kanchanpur and Kailali have got 100% electrification. Bajura has the lowest electrification of only 33.51 percent. Dadeldhura has 94.08%, Doti 88.04%, Achham 65.97%, Baitadi 61.73%, Bajhang 69.03% and Darchula 84.01%.
Kulman Ghising further says that preparations are being made to implement the Nepal Government’s announcement to provide reliable and quality electricity service to all Nepalese households within the current financial year. He said that in the year 2072-73, the level of electrification was only 58 percent, but now it has increased to 99 percent, which is a great success.
The NEA has taken a concessional loan of 220 million US dollars from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) and had selected construction contractors for electrification in the hill districts of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces. In addition, Ghising mentioned that fund has been raised to expand electricity access to other areas by allocating a portion from the government’s investment and the profit earned by the authority.
Let us see the past
The first electricity accessed house in the country belongs now to Madan Krishna Maharjan which locates in Khokana, an ancient Newar settlement in the southern part of the Kathmandu Valley.
The house was powered even before the inauguration of the first hydropower plant on May 22, 1911. This was said to be a ‘test’ of behaviour of electricity to introduce to the Rana palaces.
Some half a dozen light bulbs were hung and burning brightly in the house day and night. People were purprised seeing that. This was told by Siddhi Lal Maharjan was Madan Krishna’s grandfather.
Pharping Hydro Power was the first hydropower generation plant installed in the country in 1911 AD at the ruling time of Chandra Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana. The plant generates 500 kW of electricity. The power generated was supposed to light the Rana places. The plant was called Chandrajyoti Hydro-electric power station, inaugurated by King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah on 22 May 1911 at around 6: 30 pm by turning the lights on during an event organised in Tundikhel, Kathmandu.
Currently water from the reservoir lake is used for drinking water supply for some places of Lalitpur.
Considering that the aging power station needed to be converted into a heritage site, in 2010, it was declared a Living Museum by government of Nepal and was open for public.
