Nepal: South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Power Transmission and Distribution System Strengthening Project

Energy / Electricity transmission and distribution

Nepal is a landlocked, mountainous country located between large and fast-growing economies of People's Republic of China to the north and India to the east, west, and south. It is classified as a low-income, least developed country with gross national income (GNI) per capita of $800 in 2017. The government is pursuing an accelerated growth path for Nepal to become a lower-middle income country by 2030, with a per capita GNI of at least $1,026. Nepal has long recognized that the development of its large hydropower potential is an important cornerstone for poverty reduction and economic growth.

Sector challenges. Following years of facing chronic electricity shortages during Nepal's dry winter months, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has made significant improvements in electricity supply over FY2016 2017 and FY2017 2018 . This was achieved through a combination of (i) increased electricity imports from India (around 400 MW); (ii) increased transmission capacity and operational flexibility by commissioning of new transmission facilities; and (iii) better load management of major industrial customers. However, the transmission system continues to need strengthening for smooth power flows from power supply locations to the load centers. At the same time, even though about 63% of the population in Nepal has access to electricity from the main grid, the supply has been unreliable and inadequate. These require immediate upgrading and expansion of the distribution system. The ongoing challenges NEA is facing may be characterized by: (i) inadequate generation capacity especially during dry season; (ii) insufficient transmission and distribution capacity; (iii) high technical and commercial losses especially in Province 2 due to under-performing and aging assets with poor collection efficiency and inadequate tariff; and (iv) lack of institutional capacity to prepare and implement power projects using high level technologies effectively.

Government priorities. In 2019, the Government of Nepal initiated plans to install an additional 10,000 MW of generation capacity over the next 10 years and export the excess electricity to India and Bangladesh. The government has recognized the immediate need to reinforce and upgrade transmission lines and associated substations including strengthening the distribution networks. These investments will help address the country's power crisis and ensure universal access to reliable electricity supply for all by 2030. These efforts will contribute in promoting sustainable energy for all (Sustainable Development Goal #7) and achieving Nepal's Nationally Determined Commitments for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to (i) reduce its dependency to fossil fuel by 50%; and (ii) achieve 80% electrification through mix of renewable energy by 2025. The much-awaited Electricity Regulatory Commission has now been operationalized since mid-May 2019 to promote and protect competition in the electricity market, among others.

In this context, the focus of Nepal's power system investment program is now gearing towards concentrating on delivery of reliable and quality supply of electricity to all its customers and on exporting excess power to India. Such quality of supply improvement is particularly important for high value customers in and around Kathmandu Valley and in corridors earmarked for industrial development. Currently, NEA is implementing the Power Transmission and Distribution Efficiency Enhancement Project (PTDEEP) in Kathmandu Valley with financial assistance from ADB. The scope of PTDEEP includes construction of grid substations and reinforcing and modernizing electricity distribution infrastructure within Kathmandu Valley, initially focusing on the critical Maharajgunj and Ratnapark distribution centers. It is also supporting installation of 98,000 smart meters and associated infrastructure and is expected to be completed by 2021.

The proposed Power Transmission and Distribution System Strengthening Project will complete the reinforcement and modernization of supply in and around Kathmandu. The project will also ensure that hydropower generation can be evacuated and transmitted to the critical Kathmandu and outside load centers and the excess traded with neighboring countries. This project will also begin strengthening the distribution system outside Kathmandu in a systematic and phased manner starting with Province 2 where about 20% of the people are still without access to the grid power and those who with access face low quality and unreliable electricity supply. At the provisional level, NEA does not record electricity network performance, quality and reliability statistics. However, it is estimated that Province 2 is the worst performing on most measures with losses as high as 50% in some areas.

Power system transmission capacity increased

Distribution system in Kathmandu Valley and Bharatpur modernized with high-level technology

Distribution network in Province 2 improved