Indian government-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) will supply 20 million LED bulbs to Nepal to help the mountain nation save energy.
According to the annual review by the Nepal Electricity Authority, for the financial year 2015-16, Nepal’s peak demand stood at 1,385.30 MW. This included the power Nepal supplied to India. The country’s peak demand has grown by nearly 8 per cent annually during fiscal 2014 and 2015. An annual 450-MW saving to the Himalayan kingdom will be a big boost.
After taking into account taxes and overhead costs, the retail price of an EESL-disbursed bulb comes up to ₹65 a piece in India. This is the same price at which EESL will supply the bulbs to Nepal.
In a bid to sweeten the deal for Nepal, EESL has also proposed to set up the LED distribution infrastructure network. An online monitoring portal similar to the National Ujala Dashboard will also be set up by EESL free of cost.
The proposal awaits the nod of the Nepal Cabinet. During discussions, the Nepal government said it wanted all the 20 million bulbs to be disbursed in 6 months, from the date of assent.
