Nepal declares power 'crisis'
Sunday, 28 December 2008
KATHMANDU, Dec 27 (AFP): Nepal's Maoist-run government has declared a "national power crisis" and warned that blackouts in the impoverished country will increase to at least 16 hours per day, officials said today.
Nepal is struggling to recover from a civil war waged by the Maoists who now govern the country after winning elections earlier this year, and the Himalayan country can currently meet only around 50 per cent of its electricity needs.
"We had no other alternatives than to declare national power crisis because there is a severe shortage of electricity," Bishnu Poudel, minister for water resources said Thursday evening.
The government will import more electricity from neighbouring India as well as set up diesel-powered generators and attempt to attract more investment in hydro electricity projects, the minister said.
"It will still take at least five years to free the country from power shortages if everything works out as planned," said Poudel.
An official from the Nepal Electricity Authority said electricity demand had been outstripping supply for years in the mountainous country dotted with Himalayan rivers, which has massive untapped potential for hydro power.
Nepal relies on hydro power for most of its electricity and as the dry season approaches in early 2009, power cuts will increase, said Bhat.
Nepal is struggling to recover from a civil war waged by the Maoists who now govern the country after winning elections earlier this year, and the Himalayan country can currently meet only around 50 per cent of its electricity needs.
"We had no other alternatives than to declare national power crisis because there is a severe shortage of electricity," Bishnu Poudel, minister for water resources said Thursday evening.
The government will import more electricity from neighbouring India as well as set up diesel-powered generators and attempt to attract more investment in hydro electricity projects, the minister said.
"It will still take at least five years to free the country from power shortages if everything works out as planned," said Poudel.
An official from the Nepal Electricity Authority said electricity demand had been outstripping supply for years in the mountainous country dotted with Himalayan rivers, which has massive untapped potential for hydro power.
Nepal relies on hydro power for most of its electricity and as the dry season approaches in early 2009, power cuts will increase, said Bhat.