विद्युत् प्राधिकरणलाई १० अर्ब आन्तरिक ऋणको अन्तिम स्वीकृतिNEA Gets Final Approval to Raise NPR 10 Billion Internal Loan
काठमाडौं — ऊर्जा, जलस्रोत तथा सिँचाइ मन्त्रालयले अन्ततः नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरणलाई १० अर्ब रुपियाँको आन्तरिक ऋण उठाउन स्वीकृति प्रदान गरेको छ। अर्थ मन्त्रालयले असार २ गते नै ऋण उठाउने अनुमति दिएपछि ऊर्जा मन्त्रालयमार्फत प्राधिकरणलाई औपचारिक पत्र पठाइएको हो।
प्राधिकरणले ऋण बिना प्रतिस्पर्धा उठाउने प्रस्ताव गरे पनि अर्थ मन्त्रालयले प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक ब्याजदरमा मात्र ऋण लिन सहमति दिएको थियो। त्यसपछि कुनै अतिरिक्त लाभ लिन नसकिने भएपछि ऊर्जा मन्त्रालयमै फाइल केही समय रोकिएको थियो। अहिले आर्थिक वर्षको अन्त्यतिर आएर मन्त्रालयले अन्ततः स्वीकृति दिएको हो।
स्वीकृति पाएसँगै प्राधिकरणले हाल चालु आर्थिक वर्षभित्रै पाँच अर्ब रुपैयाँ सरकारी बैंकहरूबाट ऋण उठाउने तयारी थालेको छ। यो प्रक्रिया पूरा गर्न अब चार दिन मात्र बाँकी छ। बाँकी पाँच अर्ब रुपैयाँ अर्को आर्थिक वर्षमा उठाउने योजना छ, जसमा निजी बैंकहरूसँग पनि समन्वय गरिने बताइएको छ।
गत चैत ११ गते कार्यकारी निर्देशकमा हितेन्द्रदेव शाक्य नियुक्त भएपछि प्राधिकरणमा तरलता अभाव भएको भन्दै ऋण उठाउने योजना अघि बढाइएको हो। बैशाख १९ मा प्रकाशित श्वेतपत्रमा ठेकेदारको भुक्तानी ११ अर्ब ६१ करोड बाँकी रहेको उल्लेख छ भने प्राधिकरणको मौज्दात १० अर्ब १० करोड रहेको उल्लेख गरिएको छ। यस्तो अवस्थामा ऋण उठाउनु अपरिहार्य भएको प्राधिकरणको तर्क छ।
Kathmandu — The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation has finally forwarded the Finance Ministry's approval to allow the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to raise NPR 10 billion through internal borrowing. Based on the Ministry of Finance’s decision dated Asar 2, the Energy Ministry has now formally granted permission to NEA to raise the short-term loan.
Though the Finance Ministry had approved the proposal earlier, procedural requirements prevented it from directly writing to NEA. The communication was routed through the Energy Ministry, which had delayed forwarding the letter. This bureaucratic holdup nearly disrupted NEA's plan to secure the loan within the current fiscal year.
Originally, the NEA had proposed a non-competitive borrowing arrangement. However, the Finance Ministry insisted on a competitive interest rate process to ensure fair lending, which nullified the chances of earning any undue financial advantage. This led to the file being deliberately stalled within the Energy Ministry.
With the fiscal year nearing its end, the ministry has now greenlit the borrowing plan. NEA has begun preparations to raise NPR 5 billion from state-owned banks within the current fiscal year, with only four days remaining. The remaining NPR 5 billion is planned for the next fiscal year, potentially involving private banks as well.
This initiative was driven by NEA’s current Executive Director Hiteyendra Dev Shakya, appointed on Chaitra 11 after former chief Kulman Ghising was removed. Shakya highlighted liquidity shortages within NEA and pushed forward the internal loan plan. A government white paper released on Baisakh 19 also acknowledged outstanding contractor payments of NPR 11.61 billion and available central funds of NPR 10.10 billion, underscoring the urgency of the loan.
