As if the existing problem in the textile industry wasn't enough, that the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to further increase load shedding from 15 to 36 hours a week starting from January 10.
A power cut of six hours will have to be borne by both manufacturing units in Nepal as well as the residents of the country. The load shedding will be imposed twice in a day for three hours each.
Moreover, NEA is of the opinion that power cut is likely to increase to as much as 11 hours a day starting from mid February.
Sources confirm that the total consumption of power by NEA, the private sector and Indian companies together amounts to 335 megawatt (MW). The consumption also soars as high as 720 MW in the peak hours.
Since the power capacity of NEA powerhouse has reduced by 50 percent, the country is presently importing 60 MW from Indian companies.
Kaligandaki-A, the biggest operating hydro-power project in Nepal, is currently producing only 67 MW against its total capacity of 144 MW. Similar is the condition of other operating run-of-river projects. Altogether, NEA is falling short of 1.4 million units of electricity.