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Per capita energy consumption reached 400 units in the last fiscal year, according to data released by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Following the end of load shedding in the country and the regular supply of electricity, energy consumption has tripled. 

In the fiscal year 2015/16, energy consumption was 3.72bn units, but by 2023/24, it had increased to 10.2bn units. Over the span of eight years, the country’s energy consumption grew by 6.51bn units. Last year, 4.31bn units were consumed domestically, while industrial consumers used 3.69bn units. Eight years ago, per capita energy consumption was just 131 units.

Eight years ago, there was eight hours of daily load shedding even during the rainy season, with projections of up to 14 hours per day in winter. Starting in Oct 2016, load shedding was eliminated for domestic consumers in the Kathmandu Valley and gradually in other major cities, followed by the end of load shedding for industrial consumers. By April 2022, the entire country was declared load shedding-free.

At that time, only 58 percent of households had access to electricity. Today, electricity reaches 99 percent of households, with 97 percent connected to the national grid and two percent powered by small hydropower, solar energy, and other sources. The number of electricity consumers has grown from around 3m to approximately 5.9m, including community users.

NEA’s Managing Director, Kul Man Ghising, attributes the increase in energy consumption to the regular supply of electricity following the end of load shedding. “Industries are receiving a consistent electricity supply, and their loads are being approved. There is also an increasing use of electricity for household purposes, such as cooking, and in both private and public vehicles. Electrification has been rising rapidly, resulting in increased energy consumption,” Ghising said. “Each year, with rising demand for electricity, the challenges in supply increase. To provide reliable, standard, and safe electricity, major cities have been divided into 11 clusters, and a plan for transmission and distribution infrastructure to meet demand until 2050 has been prepared and is being gradually implemented.”

Electricity consumption, which was 3.72bn units in 2015/16, increased by 28.47 percent to 4.77bn units in 2016/17. Consumption reached 5.56bn units in 2017/18, 6.3bn units in 2018/19, 6.42bn units in 2019/20, and 7.28bn units in 2020/21. In 2021/22, 8.84bn units were consumed, 9.35bn units in 2022/23, and 10.2bn units in 2023/24.

Electricity consumption increased by about 10 percent in 2023/24 compared to 2022/23. The peak demand for electricity in 2023/24 rose by 11.34 percent compared to the previous year, with the highest demand recorded on May 30, 2023, at 2,212 megawatts.

Although Nepal exports electricity to India for six months during the rainy season, winter sees a decrease in production from run-of-river hydropower projects, necessitating imports to meet domestic demand. However, the amount of imported energy is decreasing. Last year, imported energy accounted for 14.68 percent of the system’s supply, an 8.57 percent reduction from the previous year.

Electricity exports increased by 44 percent in the last fiscal year. About 1.9bn units of electricity worth Rs 16.93bn were imported from India, but 1.95bn units worth Rs 17.06bn were exported, making Nepal a net exporter of electricity by a margin of over Rs 130m.

Ashokraj Sigdel has been appointed as the Chief of Army Staff.

On the recommendation of the government, President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Sigdel as the Chief of Army Staff effective from September 9, Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai, spokesperson at the President’s Office, informed.

Sigdel is currently the Acting Chief of Army Staff.

With this, he became the 45^th Chief of Army Staff.

The death toll from the landslide at Doramba Shailung Rural Municipality-3 in Ramechhap district has climbed to eight.

Of the 11 people that were missing after a landslide swept away four houses on August 25, the eight bodies have been recovered so far, according to District Police Office, Chief Pradeep Kumar Singh.

Two bodies were found recently, taking the death toll to eight, police said.

Efforts are underway to search for two missing people Kale Pahari (55) and Jhyaipuri Pahari (50) of the same ward.

The bodies of Chandika Shrestha (30) her 18-month-old son Ayush Shrestha, Urmila Pahari (57) Sandip Pahari (30) Santosh Pahari, Bigyan Pahari (14) had been handed over to their respective families on Sunday after conducting postmortem, informed Kaushal Neupane,  Information Officer at the District Police Office, Ramechhap.

The Lalbandi Nagar Bangmaya Parishad has announced the winner of the ‘Lalbandi Nagar Bangmaya Parishad Bhasa Tatha Sahitya Puraskar-2081’. Out of ten books shortlisted by the award selection committee, Akhanda Bhandari’s ‘Bora’ was selected as the recipient of the ‘Lalbandi Nagar Bangmaya Parishad Bhasa Tatha Sahitya Puraskar-2081’. The announcement was made on Aug 26 after the committee recommended ‘Bora’ as an outstanding candidate. The council had previously revealed the top ten candidates on July 28 via a press release.

Additionally, the ‘Lalbandi Nagar Bangmaya Parishad Sthaniya Pratibha Puraskar-2081’ will be awarded to journalist Shankar Shrestha. According to the press release, the prize amount for the ‘Lalbandi Nagar Vangmaya Parishad Sthaniya Pratibha Puraskar’ is Rs 25,000, and for the ‘Lalbandi Nagar Vangmaya Parishad Bhasa Tatha Sahitya Puraskar’ it is Rs 50,000. The awards will be presented on Dec 2 amid an event in Lalbandi, Sarlahi.

The ‘Sahityik Sahid Krishnalal Adhikari Smriti Puraskar-2081’, which carries a prize of Rs 50,000, will be awarded to journalist Rochak Ghimire. The award fund was established in memory of Krishnalal Adhikari, the author of the book ‘Makai’, who became a martyr while fighting against the Rana regime through literature. This year marks the inauguration of the ‘Sahityik Sahid Krishnalal Adhikari Smriti Puraskar-2081’.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced Kavrepalanchowk's tourism town, Dhulikhel, as the first 'healthy city' of Nepal.

Meeting the WHO-set criteria, Dhulikhel has been successful in receiving a reward of USD 5,000 for being the second healthiest city in Asia.

Program Coordinator of WHO Department of Ethics and Social Determinants Dr Suvajee Good on Tuesday announced Nepal's first healthy city and the second healthy city in Asia. With the announcement, Dhulikhel was entitled to receive a reward of USD 5,000.

India's Pune City Banda is the first healthy city in Asia and Dhulikhel has been declared second with a score of 65.48.

Dhulikhel Mayor Ashok Kumar Byanju said that the city has been declared as the second healthy city in Asia and the first in Nepal and has received a prize of USD 5,000.

The announcement was made on the basis of policy reforms in the health sector, sustainable development goals of the health sector, environmental improvement, access to health of poor citizens, chronic diseases and communicable diseases and improvement in community health, as well as progress made in primary health care of the local government.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 153, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 152, 300 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1,855 per tola today.

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel at the latter's Office in Sheetal Niwas on Tuesday.

During the meeting, President Paudel mentioned that establishing an embassy of Oman in Kathmandu would be suitable for both countries considering the increasing number of Nepalis working in Oman. He also expressed the opinion that direct air connectivity between the two countries would help facilitate trade, promote tourism and enhance relations at the people-to-people level, according to President's Press Adviser Kiran Pokharel.

On the occasion, Visiting Foreign Minister Albusaidi responded that his government was positive about opening Oman's Embassy in Nepal and establishing direct air links between the two countries. "We highly value the contribution of the calm, gentle and hard-working Nepalis to the development of Oman."

Foreign Minister Albusaidi arrived in Kathmandu on Monday on a two-day official visit to Nepal.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and her visiting Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi held a bilateral meeting on Tuesday.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on matters relating to Nepal-Oman bilateral interests, common concerns and the strengthening of bilateral relations, according to the Ministry.

They touched on issues relating to air connectivity, labor issues, investment, tourism, diplomatic exchanges, all sorts of bilateral cooperation and collaboration and so on. 

Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ganesh Prasad Pandey, Nepal's Ambassador for Oman, Dornath Aryal and the Omani officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present in the meeting.

Minister Rana called on Oman to operate Nepal's international airports based in Bhairahawa and Pokhara, reminding of the closure of the flights at Bhairahawa following a brief operation. She said the government has decided to ensure more facilities for international airlines providing services in Nepal. In response, her counterpart said the Government of Oman will consider the matter.

Likewise, Nepal raised the topics of the rights and welfare of Nepali workers and additional labor destinations. The Nepali side raised this topic, stating that Oman could become a promising labor destination for Nepali workers as Oman has better labor laws and other environments.  

The Omani side stated that the Nepali workers were honest and conscientious and so Oman will hire additional Nepali workers based on requirement.

An agreement has been reached according to which the two countries will move ahead signing a labor agreement on this topic.

Foreign Minister Rana mentioned about the immense possibilities of tourism in Nepal due to its natural beauty, the Himalayan peaks over 8,000 meters high including the Sagarmatha and the various heritage sites enlisted in the list of World Heritage Sites.

She urged the Omani investors to invest in Nepal in various sectors including in tourism. "There are many areas for possible investment in Nepal. Therefore, I urge, through the Foreign Minister, the Government of Oman and the investors there to invest in Nepal," she added.

Talking briefly to journalists after the bilateral meeting with the Omani Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Rana said talks were held on further deepening the relations between Nepal and Oman. She informed that preparations have been made on the two countries reaching agreement soon on labor, health, tourism and foreign affairs.

Minister Dr Rana also said that Oman was willing to invest in the priority sectors in tourism in Nepal.

According to her, they reviewed overall aspects of Nepal-Oman relations including matters relating to labor and employment, tourism, trade, air connectivity, investment, among others.