Nepal developing 2,000 MW hydro projects

Hydro projects worth in Nepal with a total capacity of 2,007 MW capacity are in the pipeline.

These are the upper Karnali HEP, Burhi Gandaki HEP, Naumure storage cum HEP and Arun-3 HEP.

This is part of the process for developing the hydro-electric potential in Nepal.

The upper Karnali HEP has a capacity of 300 MW that will be located in Surkhet, Dailekh and Achham districts in Western part of Nepal. The project envisages construction of a diversion weir across the Karnali River to provide a live storage of about 4.8 Mcum. The project has been awarded to a consortium consisting of GMR Group companies and Italian-Thai Development Project Company of Thailand on build-own-operate-transfer basis and a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed in this regard

The 600 MW Burhi Gandaki HEP is proposed to be located in mid-western Nepal. For the purpose of execution of the project, government of Nepal invited Expression of Interest in December 2006, however, no bids have been received.

The Naumure Storage cum HEP, with a capacity of 207 MW, is proposed to be located in Pyuthan district on western part of the Rapti River. The pre-feasibility report has been submitted, and the response of the Nepelese government, on the same, is awaited.

The 900 MW Arun-3 HEP, is a run-of-river type development, proposed to be located in Arun River Valley at the Sankhuwasabha district in Eastern Nepal. The project has been awarded to Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. on build-own-operate-transfer basis for a period of 30 years and an MOU has been signed between the Government of Nepal and SJVNL. The DPR for the project submitted by SJVNL, has now been taken up for examination by the Central Electricity Authority.