The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation has asked Kulman Ghising, managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), to provide 15 detailed reports concerning various administrative and operational issues, including the procurement of specialised trunk lines, poles, and transformers.

A meeting of the Authority, chaired by Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka on Wednesday, directed Ghising to submit details of various 15 issues within fifteen days.

Among the matters raised is the issue of six industrial firms failing to pay tariffs for using dedicated feeder and trunk lines to access electricity. In July, the NEA cut off the power supply to these firms. Despite written orders from the Electricity Regulatory Commission and verbal instructions from then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Ghising refused to restore power for several days. Although electricity supply was eventually resumed, the incident strained relations between Prime Minister Oli and Ghising.

The NEA had also cut off power to certain industrial firms in January this year, only to resume supply after a government recommendation. This further highlighted tensions between the NEA and government authorities over electricity distribution policies.

The Ministry has requested reports covering a wide range of topics over the past four years, including details of revised NEA employee service regulations and economic administration, decisions made by the board during this period, and powers delegated to the executive director. Additionally, the ministry seeks information on agreements made with commercial entities in neighbouring countries, NEA’s shareholding structure in subsidiary companies, and staff deputed to these entities.

Further clarifications were requested regarding NEA’s financial statements from the past four years, power evacuation routes used when full evacuation was not possible, and negotiations around the ownership transfer of the Khimti-I Hydropower Project. The Ministry also sought details on tenders approved over four fiscal years, foreign trips made by NEA board members, outstanding revenues related to dedicated feeder and trunk lines, transformers yet to be installed, and procurement details for smart meters.

Similarly, the ministry has asked for updates on unresolved audit issues highlighted by the Office of the Auditor General and information on staff who have served as central store chiefs over the last five years.

In the meantime, Minister Khadka said that the government has sought details from Managing Director Ghising for records and has no intention of dismissing him from the post.