Kathmandu: The recent floods and landslides have severely impacted Nepal’s electricity production, knocking 1,100 MW of hydroelectric power out of the system. The disasters have caused significant damage to both power generation and transmission infrastructure, with approximately 650 MW from stalled projects and an additional 450 MW lost due to transmission issues.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) reported that the Kabeli Corridor, which supplies energy to eastern Nepal, saw the destruction of three transmission towers, disrupting 200 MW of electricity. Similarly, a tower on the Khimti-Lamosanghu transmission line, which channels power from the Tamakoshi Corridor to Kathmandu, was washed away by the Tamakoshi River, causing the loss of another 200 MW.

Other infrastructure, including the Bardaghat-Sardi 132 KV double circuit transmission line, also suffered damage. The collapse of the tower in Bardaghat Municipality-5, Nawalparasi, disrupted power to the Hongshi Shivam Cement factory, a major project involving Chinese and Nepali investors.

NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising acknowledged the challenges of managing energy demand, as the damaged roads and bridges are hampering efforts to transport materials for repair and reconstruction. The NEA warned that delays in restoring power supply are inevitable, given the scale of the damage.

Minister of Energy Deepak Khadka announced plans for discussions with the Ministry of Finance to address the need for reconstruction, road access, and insurance issues. Experts emphasized the importance of improving pre-project studies, designs, and forecasting systems to mitigate the impact of future disasters on Nepal's energy sector.