Special investment in energy sector for double digit economic growth rate: Minister Pun

KATHMANDU, March 19: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barshaman Pun, has directed employees of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to work in a result-oriented manner.

Addressing a program organized at the NEA on Monday, Minister Pun urged the NEA employees to control leakage in NEA system as well as to create environment to complete the halted projects immediately.

He further said that the government has determined to achieve double digit economic growth within few years, directing all NEA employees to carry out activities honestly.

The Energy Minister said, “Construction of Kulekhani III has been halted since long. Condition of Upper Trishuli ‘A’ is also same. Construction of any projects should not be halted and all construction should be completed within the deadline.”

He clarified that special investment in hydropower sector was necessary to make the country self-dependent.

Presenting the data that Rs 100 billion goes out of the country annually to import petroleum products, Minister Pun said that trade deficit can be reduced if that amount of import of petroleum products was stopped.

He further said that the government would invest in energy sector with special action plan and will give priority to it as energy sector has significant contribution in double digit growth rate.

The country has compulsion to generate at least 10,000 MW electricity in next 10 years, he said, adding the goal can be achieved only from positive and meaningful initiative of all.

Similarly, NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising stressed the need of systematic power expansion system.