Nepal needs regulatory reforms for power trading with India: IPPAN

KATHMANDU: Welcoming the signing of Power Trading Agreement and Project Development Agreement between Nepal and India, an autonomous organisation here has asked the government to introduce reforms and legal framework to pave way for power trading between the two countries.

Nepal, which is a power deficit country till now, will be in a position to export surplus power to India during rainy season, after 2017, said Khadga Bahadur Bishta, president of Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal ( IPPAN).

The power connectivity between Nepal and India should be well-established with regulatory frameworks and a trading company to facilitate power trading between the two countries, he said.

Nepal is currently producing 755 MW hydroelectricity, just one per cent of its total hydro-potential of 83,000 MW and the projects with the capacity of 1200 MW are currently under construction.

Nepal government has signed Project Development Agreement (PDA) with GMR Consortium for constructing 900 MW Upper Karnali power project.

It is set to sign another PDA with Sutlaj Jalavidyut Nigam of India to generate 900 MW power from the Arun Third Project.