Nepal

By Ramesh Lamsal/RSS

The government's plan of providing electricity facilities to every house of Nepalis is nearing completion.

A majority of Nepali citizens would have access to clean energy within two years if the activities are forwarded as per the government's plan.

Out of 753 local levels, 476 local levels have been fully electrified. Similarly, 242 local levels have been partially electrified.

The government and Nepal Electricity Authority have been involved with a plan to provide full service at the partly electrified local levels. 

Likewise, 35 local levels have not yet got electric service.

The NEA has been taking initiatives in a planned manner keeping these local levels in the centre. Especially, some local levels of Karnali have not got electricity service.

The NEA has already announced a tender by arranging sources of Rs 28 billion to take electricity service in these areas.

NEA has prepared to provide electricity access at all local levels within the next two years.

As per the Electrification Statistics-2079 prepared by the NEA by carrying out a detailed study of all local levels, out of the total population, 92.51 per cent population have access to electricity.

Madhesh province has the highest electrification rate of 99.95 per cent whereas the lowest rate is in Karnali province with 56.79 per cent.

Province 1 has 91.23 per cent electrification, 97.47 per cent in Bagmati, 97.76 per cent in Gandaki, 96.73 per cent in Lumbini, and 78.85 per cent in Sudurpaschim provinces.

So far, 42 districts are fully electrified. They include Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Chitwan, Tanahu, Lamjung, Kaski, Syangja, Palpa, Parbat, Mustang, Baglung, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Nawalparasai ( Bardghat-Susta East), Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur.

Likewise, 14 districts, namely Ilam, Panchthar, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha, Khotang, Udaypur, Sindhuli, Makwanpur, Gorkha, Palpa, Myagdi, Rukum West, Doti, and Dadeldhura witness 75-95 per cent of electrification while 10 districts including Taplejung, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Manang, Rolpa, Salyan, Surkhet, Dailekh, Achham and Darchula report 50-75 per cent electrification.

Seven districts - Rukum East, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, Bajhang, and Baitadi - have 25-50 per cent electrification while four districts - Solukhumbu, Dolpa, Jajarkot, and Bajura - have only 25 percent electrification.

Dolpa, Mugu, and Humla still have no access to the national grid and the government has the programme of implementing the electrification project: solar and micro hydropower through the Alternative Energy Promotion Center.

NEA's Managing Director Kulman Ghishing said that works are in progress in a planned way in line with the government's announcement to ensure reliable and quality electricity service to the entire Nepali people by 2024.

In the fiscal year 2072-73, only 62.16 percent of households in Nepal were electrified and now this figure rose to 92. 51percent.

Out of seven provinces, four provinces are almost completely electrified.

The electrification in Karnali Province districts has been slightly delayed due to its geographical challenges and remoteness, works go on with the target of providing electricity to the entire population by the next two years, according to the NEA.

The NEA is implementing the electrification projects in the hilly districts of Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudur Paschim Province on around Rs 28 billion soft loans from the Asian Infrastructure Bank and the European Investment Bank.