Nepal’s cement, steel, and textile industry associations have accused the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) of misleading the public about load shedding. During a joint press conference on Sunday, industry representatives claimed that despite continuous power cuts in industrial areas, the NEA falsely insists that there is no load shedding.
According to industry leaders, the NEA officially declared industrial zones free from load shedding in April 2018. However, they argue that the reality is quite the opposite. Since that announcement, industries have faced power cuts ranging from two to ten hours per month, with the problem worsening from December to June. Due to frequent power outages, machines remain idle for long hours, significantly disrupting production.
Despite paying taxes, revenues, and tariffs as required by Nepal’s constitution and laws, industries claim that the government has failed to ensure stable electricity supply. They have demanded that the NEA provide clear and accurate information regarding the actual power situation. If the authority cannot supply enough electricity, they insist it should publicly disclose which industries will be affected and to what extent.
