Already grappling with multiple challenges, industries in Nepal’s central Tarai are now reeling from repeated, unannounced power cuts that have severely disrupted operations and production.
Industrialists from the Birgunj–Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor say the erratic electricity supply managed by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has become unbearable. They noted a brief improvement in supply following the dismissal of Kulman Ghising as NEA Managing Director, but claim the situation has since deteriorated significantly.
Read: Government Sacks Kulman Ghising as NEA Chief to Reinstate Hitendra Dev Shakya
On Saturday, April 12, the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a public statement drawing attention to the deepening crisis, citing frequent outages and voltage fluctuations that are damaging expensive industrial equipment and spoiling raw materials.
According to the chamber, the industrial feeder in the corridor experiences as many as 14 to 15 power trips every 24 hours. “Such outages have forced factories to operate well below capacity,” said Chamber President Hari Gautam.
Senior Vice President Madhav Rajpal added the private sector, once hopeful after NEA’s 2018 announcement of a load-shedding-free industrial zone under the “Bright Nepal” initiative, is now disillusioned. “The dream of uninterrupted power has collapsed. The situation has not only hampered productivity but also led to rising costs,” he added.
Entrepreneurs say the recurring blackouts have pushed many to rely on costly diesel generators, inflating operational expenses and weakening their competitiveness in the market. Smaller industries that cannot afford backup power are being forced to halt operations altogether.
Given the worsening conditions, the chamber has urged the government to introduce a scheduled load-shedding plan if uninterrupted power cannot be guaranteed. It also emphasized the need for long-term strategies to address the seasonal energy crisis, especially during winter, to ensure reliable and quality power supply for industrial growth.
