Nepali Economics

By Prajwal Shrestha The Nepal Electricity Authority has announced that everyday electricity worth 400 MB is going to waste due to overproduction. India is facing an acute shortage of power due to the scarcity of coal. If India had wished, it could import electricity from Nepal, which could give a bit of relief to her. However, according to NEA, India is reluctant in importing electricity from Nepal. The message is clear that India doesn’t want to make Nepal prosperous by importing Nepali electricity either today or tomorrow. Some so-called Nepali intellectuals are advocating for making Nepal prosperous by exporting electricity to India. They should know that India will import electricity only if Nepal becomes ready to sell it at a low price. India is importing electricity from Bhutan. Bhutanese experts believe that the country could get more benefit if the electricity produced by her be consumed within Bhutan than the revenue earned from the export of electricity to India. Today, Bhutan is regretting the power trade agreement with India. Presently, Nepali cement factories are facing a shortage of coal, from which, their production has been affected. In such a time, the NEA, instead of wasting 400 MB of electricity daily, could supply electricity to the industries by subsidizing the tariff. Both the parties could be benefited to some extent from such a deal. Significantly, such a contribution by NEA could help industries to produce goods at low prices making competitive Nepali products in the international market. It would contribute to increasing Nepali exports. Along with the increase in the number of industries within the country, Nepali youths could be able to get employment in the local market, which would transform Nepal into an industrial hub. Of course, the government should develop a 10-year plan with the commitment that the government policy won’t be changed before the said period for the industrialization of the country. The lesson to learn is that Nepal should give up the idea of exporting electricity to India. Nepal should produce electricity at a low price and supply it to the industries. The important thing is that Nepal must construct one or two big reservoir model hydropower projects at its own investment to end load shedding during the dry season and to end the purchase of electricity from India. We should understand that foreigners will not come to build Nepal and make the country prosperous.