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Industries in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor, the country’s major industrial hub, have complained that they are frustrated by unstable electricity supply (tripping issues).

The Industry Organization Morang has drawn the attention of the Nepal Electricity Authority over frequent power “tripping” and “fluctuation” occurring daily in recent days within the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor and the Biratnagar metropolitan area, which has been affecting industrial operations.

On Thursday, the organization sent letters to the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, and the director of the Koshi Province regional office, demanding a solution to the problem.

According to the organization’s chair, Nandakishor Rathi, electricity tripping is occurring more than 10 to 12 times daily in the industrial area. He said frequent power interruptions are directly affecting industrial operations and disrupting production processes.

He added that due to tripping, damage is being caused to industrial mills and machinery, raw materials in production are being wasted, and workers are being forced to remain idle when production stops. “Industries are suffering huge financial losses because of this,” Rathi said.

As electricity supply has become unreliable, industries have been compelled to use diesel-powered generators as an alternative. However, rising fuel prices have significantly increased production costs, which industrialists say is also negatively affecting the competitiveness of domestic industries.

The organization stated that the problem is not limited to the industrial sector alone. Frequent tripping and fluctuations have also damaged household electrical appliances used by the general public, and have affected students’ studies, office work, and daily household activities.

The Industry Organization Morang has urged the authority to ensure a reliable, regular, and high-quality electricity supply by implementing necessary technical and managerial improvements and to find a long-term solution.

With unstable power supply in the Sunsari-Morang corridor, which accounts for a significant share of the country’s industrial output, industrialists have raised serious concerns about impacts on production, investment, and competitiveness. They have warned that if the issue is not resolved immediately, the industrial sector will face further economic burdens.

Kantipur