Kathmandu, Aug 18: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ expressed his commitment to take forward those multipurpose and mega hydro power projects of strategic importance in involvement of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Addressing an event organized by the NEA on the 38th anniversary of the NEA here today, PM Dahal said he was particularly happy and proud to share that the incumbent government was moving ahead with the plan and thoughts to accelerate the Budhigandaki hydro power project of 1,200-megawatt capacity and multipurpose Karnali Chisapani hydro project of 10,800-megwatt in coming days.

He expressed his confidence that the NEA, that has been contributing towards the development of electricity in the country and buying the electricity produced by the private sector, would play a stronger and leading role in the sector of power production, stating that the government was moving forward with a clear target of exporting electricity.

The PM appraised the attendants in the programmes about the efforts laid to address the power outage related problems in the past. He narrated, “As I stand here to address the 38th anniversary of the Authority (NEA), I am remembering the appalling situation of power-outage that the country was facing in the rainy season when I was the Prime Minister for the second time in August, 2016.”

The PM further recalled the fact that there used to be load shedding for as long as 18 hours a day and over 40 per cent of the country’s population living in darkness in lack of access of electricity.

He further said that the condition of industries was miserable while the daily lives of people were badly affected during the power-outage days. The financial standing of the Authority was very critical. “At that time nobody believed in me when I pledged to end the power-outage within the three months and make the Authority profitable.

They made it a matter of joke,” he reminisced. The PM asserted, “As I assumed the leadership of the government, far-reaching decisions were taken for development of energy sector and many initiatives were taken in the best interest of the people and country.

“It is a well-known fact that the power-outage was ended forever and the NEA was made profitable by considering a host of measures such as policy reforms, and overhauling the NEA management and leadership among others ,” the PM explained. Saying Nepal has gained popularity for being high potential for the power generation, the PM stressed the need for tapping into the potential viewing the climate change risks.

There are many ways created to export surplus electricity while increasing electricity consumption within home, he said, adding the government was effortful in bringing a new electricity act, and other required policies and directives. There is a need for the country to pay a ‘special’ focus on the production and use of green hydrogen informing that the government would bring a policy related to hydrogen soon, Prime Minister Dahal said.