Shankar Prasad Koirala, secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources, said PTC had stated in a letter to the ministry it could provide 500 MW in 18 months if Nepal government agreed to its proposal. PTC could maintain the supply for next 20 to 25 years with a single unit costing IRs 3 (NRs 4.80).The proposal states PTC is ready to "re-import" power from Nepal if the latter manages to generate enough power to meet the domestic demand.
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has declared that the country will have to cope with load-shedding for next five years due to a huge gap in demand and supply of power.The current peak-hour power demand is 800 MW while the supply is only around 300 MW, resulting in an 18-hour day power cut. According to Koirala, the Ministry has already apprised the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and Finance Secretary of the PTC proposal. "The prime minister and other top officials are positive towards the PTC proposal," Koirala said.
Officials say PTC's power purchase rate is much cheaper than the existing purchase rate in the country.According to Uttar Kumar Shrestha, acting managing director of the NEA, at present Nepal is importing 95 MW from India at the rate of IRs. 5.50 (NRs. 8.80) per unit. The PTC-proposed power purchase rate is the same as the rate set by private power producers. NEA purchases each unit from private power producers at the rate of Rs. 7 in the dry season and Rs 4 in the rainy season. Shrestha said the NEA would not bear loss if power is imported from India in line with the PTC proposal.
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=186088
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