Nepal to buy 600 MW energy from India

Kathmandu, Feb 15:  Unveiling an ambitious energy security plan, the Nepalese government has proposed to import 600 MW energy from India to lessen its increasing power woes. Though Nepal at present imports 230 MW from India, according to a Nepalese official, India will sell 80 mw electricity to the country from Tuesday via newly installed 400 KV Mujjafarpur-Dhalkebar transmission line. An announcement was made on Monday to import electricity from India after the Indian nodal agency NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam agreed to sell power at Rs.5.5 per unit (IRs.3.44) to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Earlier, the Nepal Electricity Authority, the state-owned sole utility for power generation and distribution, said different power tariff proposed by India-assigned NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam and Power Trading Corporation (PTC) to Nepal had hit roadblock to import electricity from India. Two Indian nodal agencies, NTPC and Power Trading Corporation (PTC), were competing each other to sell electricity to Nepal but there was price war between the two. (IANS)