Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is spending 50 billion rupees to build transmission lines and substations in the Kathmandu Valley to meet the electricity demand of the federal capital by 2050.
Since the distribution line is not reliable along with transmission in the valley, now there is a problem of light going off and resuming for a long time. The authority claims that the extension of 132 and 220 KV transmission lines and the construction of new substations will facilitate distribution.
The NEA is going to invest in transmission lines and substations by creating a master plan with estimates of 900 megawatts by 2030, 1800 megawatts by 2040, and 3200 megawatts by 2050.
Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Authority, said more than 50 billion will be spent in the Kathmandu Valley alone, according to the master plan.
"The work has already started with the help of JICA to build a transmission line and substation in Kathmandu", Ghising said, "JICA has pledged $150 million and ADB has committed $100 million."
Tharka Bahadur Thapa, the head of the Kathmandu Valley Transmission System Expansion Project, informed that most of the transmission lines up to 132 KV in the Valley will be underground. According to him, work is being done on the design of the monopole in the corridor of the Valley.
220 KV transmission line cannot be extended within the city. Within the city, monopole transmission lines will be built in Bagmati Corridor, Bishnumati Corridor, Manohara Corridor, said project chief Thapa.
About 100 km broadcast 'Ring' in Kathmandu
The Electricity Authority has already purchased land to build 16 substations in the Kathmandu Valley. There are 6 places to build 220 KV transmission lines.
Project leader Thapa said that substations are going to be built in areas such as Tinpiple, Kapan Gumba, Bhaktapur and Nala Gumba, Sirutar, Dhukuchhap, which are on the border of Kavre.
A big substation is being built for Kathmandu beyond Osho Tapoban. Matatirtha's capacity to connect through Dhukuchapa is being expanded. The capacity of substations is being expanded to Teku, Ratnapark, Sunakothi, Maitidevi, Harsiddhi, etc.
"There is no ring in Kathmandu now", Ghising said, "There is a problem in Kathmandu's electricity because the transmission line is not allowed to be extended from Matatirtha to Harisiddhi."
He says that even 132 KV does not have a ring, so there is 'tripling' from time to time. He said that in the case of a 'ring system', if there is a blockage in one place, the other way can be used, but in the current situation, if there is a problem in one place, electricity cannot be supplied until it is repaired.
Although preparations are being made to build a 132 KV transmission line in Thankot-Thapagaun-Bhaktapur, only about 10 km of the work has been completed.
In Lalitpur Khokna, the 18 km transmission line has not been completed after the locals cut down the poles. Its cost was estimated at 23 million US dollars.
As it is difficult to expand in the city, a ring of 220 KV transmission line is going to be built in the hills of Kathmandu.
Project leader Thapa said, "A ring of transmission lines of about 100 km will be built in Kathmandu. Even if there is a forest on the hill, we cut trees and increase the height of the pole to expand the transmission line.
ADB has decided to help build a substation in Tinpiple. According to the authority, Chinese Exim Bank, Korean Exim Bank, and Indian Exim Bank are willing to invest in the rest.
Master plan of 17 cities, 15 billion investment required
Along with Kathmandu, 17 cities including Pokhara, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, Biratnagar, and Bhairahawa need huge investment. The authority has made its master plan.
To expand transmission lines and distribution lines in Butwal, Bharatpur, and Pokhara regions, various bodies under the European Union, including KFW, and EU, are ready to provide grants and loans.
He has committed that about 500 million dollars can be provided through loans and grants.
"They are interested in investing in the electric transport sector along with the transmission line", he said.
According to the NEA's plan, in the next 10 years, about 5 billion investment is needed in the transmission line alone. About 2 billion should be spent on the distribution line. It is seen that a total of 14 to 15 billion will be spent in the transmission sector when constructing the substation as well.
"Investment will be returned. But how to collect the investment of transmission lines and distribution lines?", he added, "To collect the investment of transmission line made by taking a loan of 500 billion, a separate fee should be collected from the producer."
Currently, the electricity produced by the promoter company reaches the nearby substation with its investment. Then, the electricity is taken from the transmission line built by the NEA.
