KATHMANDU: The first meeting of the task force formed by the Council of Ministers to study the energy sector in detail and submit policy suggestions has been held.

The Cabinet had formed the task force included Energy Minister Barshaman Pun, Supply Minister Lekhraj Bhatt, Finance Minister and Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr. Pushpa Kandel.

The task force has the responsibility to analyze the overall study of hydropower generation, transmission and distribution, transmission lines, internal and external market conditions, consumption and consumption trends, industrial development and expansion of economic activities, current power supply and power projects under construction and submit policy suggestions.

As Prime Minister KP Oli is looking after the Finance Ministry, only three members of the task force were present at the meeting.

The meeting has appointed Energy Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire as the member secretary of the task force. Similarly, members of the National Planning Commission overseeing the energy sector has been picked as member and secretaries of the Ministries of Finance, Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Forests and Environment have been given the responsibility of permanent invited members of the task force.

The meeting has formed a technical committee with the responsibility of drafting suggestions for the energy sector.

The committee has been instructed to submit the proposed draft of the policy to the main committee by mid-November, including suggestions from independent energy producers and the private sector.

In the meeting, Energy Minister Barshaman Pun said that electricity tariff will be reduced next year as well.

Nepal Electricity Authority has reduced the tariff of domestic and industrial customers this year, said Minister Pun, adding that electricity will be made available at cheaper rates next year.

He said that 50 percent share ownership of Khimti Hydropower Project has come to the government and electricity will be provided cheaply as the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project will start generating electricity within the coming winter.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta said that the government has given priority to industrialization.

Minister Bhatta urged to provide electricity at a minimum price in the industrial sector which consumes a lot of electricity for the promotion of industry and business.

Energy Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire informed at the meeting that work is being done with special focus on the construction of transmission line and other infrastructure to increase consumption along with power generation.

Talking about India being a potential market for Nepal’s hydropower, Ghimire stressed on the need for Nepal to benefit from it.

Secretary Ghimire said that India wanted to import electricity from Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan as clean energy due to increased environmental pollution due to diesel plants.