Savings of 20 billion rupees if load shedding ended

Kathmandu / Jan 3: The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) has presented a data that once the country eliminates load shedding, it would save a whopping Rs 20 billion annually.

Chairman of Energy Committee of the FNCCI, Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, said the elimination of power cuts helps the country earn Rs 16 billion, the money that goes to purchase petroleum products, and Rs 4 billion that is spend on others.

During a programme organized by the FNCCI, the industrialists said they were ready to invest in energy sector to accelerate development activities in the country.

On the occasion, Energy Minister Janardan Sharma said government was also ready to provide ample electricity as demanded by the industrialists by the coming one and half year.

He encouraged the industrialists that the government would facilitate on running new development ventures. “Bring new scheme and set up industries, government does not obstruct on it,” he added.

According to him, the government was planning the production of 10,000 MW electricity.

Executive Director at Nepal Electricity Authority, Kulman Ghising, said the load shedding has been basically ended. The reduction of load shedding hours was possible because of the use of Kaligandaki, Mid-Marsyangdi and Marsyangdi Hydropower, that were utilized to their full potential.

Currently, the industries are receiving 20 hours of power supply, while they had been reeling under 13 hours of load shedding same time last year. RSS