Reliance brings 9.2 MW solar plant into operation

Kathmandu, Feb. 22

Reliance Spinning Mills, the largest spinning mill in the country – has brought a 9.2 MW solar plant into operation at its factory in Khanar of Sunsari district.

"Solar plant of 9.2 MW installed capacity developed and brought into operation recently, it is the largest individual solar plant," said the company.

This installment of alternative energy source is expected to support the manufacturing facility that has a need of about 13-14 MW power a day. Despite multiple claims from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) – the energy monopoly in the country, industries are still facing power outage.

The project is developed by Prozeal Green Energy Limited, a joint venture initiative of Golyan Power Limited and Prozeal Green Energy, India. Golyan Power is the subsidiary of Golyan Group which also partners with Reliance Spinning Mills.

According to the company, electricity supply is one of the major challenges to it. Despite receiving approval to consume 14 MW of power from the NEA, the industry was consuming only 2.5 MW daily while the rest of the energy was generated using diesel and furnace oil which sent the production costs up.

Established in 1994, the industry is divided into two blocks: 'A' in Khanar of Itahari Municipality-12 Sunsari and 'B' Duhabi Municipality-4.

The industry employs more than 4,000 workers, of whom 1,550 are women.

Currently, the industry's annual production capacity stands at 48,960 metric tonnes. Of the total production, 20–25 per cent is consumed domestically, while 75–80 per cent is exported to countries including India, Turkey, UAE, and Malaysia. The company is also preparing to export to Bangladesh.

The company exported 25,902 tonnes of yarn worth Rs. 6.74 billion in 2023/24 which is Rs. 242 million up from that of FY 2022/23. Five years ago, the company exported 16,070 tonnes of yarn worth about 4.54 billion.

In 2022/23, export from Reliance had 4.61 per cent share in the total export from Nepal. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 February 2025.