there is high prospect of electricity generation in Nepal ? explain in long
Answers
Explanation:
Nepal has high potential for hydropower due to glaciers in the Himalayas, regular monsoon rain and local topography. Himalayan Rivers contain large quantities of sediment with hard abrasive particles, which is a hurdle for the economic exploitation of hydropower resources. Erosion of the earth's surface takes place because of influence of climatic, tectonic and human activities. Almost all the power plants in the Himalayan region are affected by excessive sediment in rivers that reduce the life of plants either by filling reservoirs or by erosion of turbine components. The design and operation of headwork components in hydropower plants can only manipulate sediment particle size and hence only sediment concentration in the water. The erosion of hydraulic machinery depends on eroding particles, that is, their size, shape and hardness; on substrates, their chemistry, elastic properties, surface hardness and surface morphology; and on operating conditions, velocity, impingement angle and concentration. The shape, size and mineral content of sediment vary at different locations of the same river system depending on distance traversed by particles, gradient of the river and the geological formation of the river course and catchment areas.
The Khimti hydropower project in Nepal represents a typical high head power plant in the Himalayan River that is affected by river sediment. Erosion tests of turbine material carried out at Kathmandu University revealed the dependence of erosion rate on mineral content. The erosion tests have shown trends relative to the quartz content present in samples from river basins in different parts of the country. There was some indication that the shape of particles had some effect. Sediments in the hydropower projects are normally considered as a burden, but there is scope for industrial use of these sediments.
Answer:
The concerned policies like Water Resources Act, 2049, Electricity Act, 2049, Water Resource Regulation, 2050, Electricity Regulation, 2050 in the hydropower sector have not described threshold criteria in terms of environmental sensitivity. Previously, 5-MW threshold criteria of EIA guideline 1993 repeatedly addressed in the Environment Protection Act and Rules, 1997 for the environmental assessment process. This criterion had raised issues in a licensing process and well as environmental assessment process of hydropower generation. The Water Resources Development Policy, 2001, has a provision to promote an integration of environmental aspects during the development of water resource sector. The policy urges to ensure minimum release of 10% discharge or more as recommended by the EIA study during the construction and operation of hydropower projects, and encourages the private developers to acquire necessary land for the project by themselves. These criteria are not applicable for every project considering the size, location, and sensitivity. Owing to the policy, electricity supply is limited to 43.6% for urban population (2009) and only 8% access in rural areas. As a result, Nepal has limited access and low-level electricity consumption among other developing countries. The policy level document of the sector has not defined high dam impacts and mitigation measures. All policy is conventional and needs to be reformulated in the present context.