KATHMANDU: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has accelerated the installation of transmission lines due to the country's sharp increase in power output in recent years. The country's overall transmission line length, as per the latest numbers, is 6,507 circuit kilometers, more than twice as long as it was eight years ago when it was 2,911 circuit kilometers. This extension is a critical component of Nepal's ongoing efforts to modernize its energy infrastructure in response to rising production capacities.
NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising noted that the authority has made significant strides in building transmission lines in spite of a number of obstacles, including local impediments, problems with land acquisition, tree cutting, and material transportation. Grid lines with capabilities of 400 kV, 220 kV, 132 kV, and 66 kV are currently part of the infrastructure, throughout the previous eight years, there have been notable increases. These lines are currently 4,136 circuit km long at 132 kV, 1,213 circuit km long at 220 kV, 644 circuit km long at 400 kV, and 514 circuit km long at 66 kV in length.
Looking ahead, the NEA's master plan indicates that an investment of at least Rs 500 billion will be needed over the next decade to develop essential transmission lines and substations. Presently, the NEA has initiated 236 projects across various capacities (132 kV, 220 kV, and 400 kV) to address the growing demand and to support the country's energy infrastructure.
Despite the increase in production capacity, which has reached 3,157 MW with an additional 2,300 MW generated over the past eight years, the peak electricity demand stands at 2,650 MW. This discrepancy has led to situations where produced electricity is wasted due to insufficient transmission infrastructure, particularly high-voltage grid lines, which are crucial for meeting industrial needs and maximizing the benefits from electricity exports.
Additionally, the capacity of grid substations has expanded dramatically, reaching 13,050 MVA, which is nearly six times the capacity from eight years ago. In FY 2015/16, the capacity was only 2,223 MVA. This enhancement in substation capacity supports the increased transmission infrastructure and aligns with the country's growing electricity production and demand needs.
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