Nepalekhabar.com

Nepali industrial sector has lost a sum of some 200 billion rupees in income in the past five years because of electricity load shedding.

According to FNCCI sources, the loss of 2004 stood at over 40 billion; it increased to over 42 billion in 2005; it reached the figure of over 55 billion in 2006; it decreased to some 51 billion in 2007; it hit the number of over 59 billion in 2008.

Since most industries depend on electricity, its cut naturally affects the productivity of the sector, said Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, the chairman of FNCCI Hydroelectricty Forum.

The government has planned to produce 10 thousand megawatt electricity in a decade. A plan to this effect is not ready yet although the pledge of some 6 billion dollar investment in the power sector in the next three years is in pipeline.