Energy minister pledges to ensure effectiveness of power supply
KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has pledged that the ministry will take effective measures to ensure a regular supply of quality energy for domestic consumers.
Responding to queries in the House of Representatives, Minister Shrestha said the expansion of smart meters and substation automation systems has gained momentum in the Kathmandu Valley and major cities. He said construction and expansion of new substations and the upgrading of transmission and distribution lines are underway to meet growing urban demand.
"To manage the growing demand for energy in urban areas, the task of constructing and expanding new substations, and upgrading transmission and distribution lines has been taken ahead," Shrestha said, adding, "Infrastructure building, including dedicated feeders along with reform measures have been taken ahead for reliable energy supply by mitigating voltage ups and downs in industrial areas."
The minister said the process of strengthening the electricity distribution system will continue steadily, and that the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is prioritising and utilising available resources to improve distribution, with positive results beginning to appear.
Minister Shrestha noted that Nepal earned Rs 29.32 billion by exporting electricity to India and Bangladesh in the fiscal year 2025/26, but cautioned that exports alone do not represent the full success of the energy sector. He explained that hydroelectric production depends on river flow, which rises in the rainy season and leads to surplus generation that must be exported in the absence of sufficient internal infrastructure, while production falls in the dry season and imports from India remain necessary.
