Page 66 - 9 teachers social book 9 @ 2077 ctp_Neat

Electricity Generation in Nepal

Electricity can be generated from different sources like coal, sunlight, wind, water,
biogas, etc. The electricity generated from rivers, rivulets, lakes, etc. is called
hydroelectricity. Hydro or water is the best source since it is cheaper, reliable and
renewable. The water resource is also called white coal because it is valuable and
renewable which can be used and reused. Hydroelectricity was generated for the
first time in Nepal in 1965 BS during the time of the then Rana Prime Minister
Chandra Shumsher from the Pharping Hydropower Project. Its capacity was
500 KW. Gehendra Shumsher, the first scientist of Nepal, took the initiation to
generate the electricity. There are more than 6000 big or small, seasonal or perennial
rivers are flowing through the country. So, there is high feasibility to generate
electricity. Among the potentiality of producing 83,000 MW of hydroelectricity, only
three big rivers of Nepal like the Saptakoshi, the Sapta Gandaki and the Karnali
have the capacity to produce 65000 MW. Besides these, there are many streams,
perennial rivulets from which micro projects and pico projects can be operated in
Nepal. Pico hydroprojects is a term used for hydroelectric power generation of under
5 KW. It is useful in small, remote communities that requires only a small amount of
electricity. For example, to power one or two fluorescent lights, bulbs and a TV or in
about 50 homes.

Bhotekoshi hydropower

As per the recent survey, Nepal requires just about 1500 MW of electricity for the
present population but we have been able to produce just 1050 MW hydroelectricity
till now. The remote areas are still out of reach of electricity. If we produce electricity
as per the potentiality, we can use sufficiently in industries, education, health, etc.
as per the requirement and can sell the surplus production to the SAARC member
th
nations. The Power Development Agreement (PDA) was signed on the 18 SAARC
Summit held in Kathmandu on 26-27 November 2014 AD. This agreement was signed
to avoid energy crisis in the member nations.

Dynamic Social Studies - Book IX 66