Dhunibensi (Dhading) – Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) is set to set up a Hydropower Academy to produce skilled manpower required for hydropower projects. Ippan is about to set up an academy on the infrastructure of a German technical school prepared by the Sheshkant Foundation in Dhunibensi, Dhading.
An agreement to establish the academy was also signed between IPPAN president Krishna Acharya and foundation president Bishweshwar Prasad Dhakal on Tuesday. According to Pawan Dhakal, project manager of the foundation, equipment worth Rs 140 million has been brought to the school so far with the help of various German companies and personal assistance. He said that he was very comfortable after Ippan signed an agreement to produce the required manpower for hydropower while he was taking initiative for technical education with practical knowledge. Most of the equipments in the school are CNCs as well as generators and hydropower simulators which are essential for the hydropower sector.
As per the agreement, courses will be prepared for manpower production in three areas within three months and 45 people will be given technical education from next year. A three-year course on hydropower operation and management, connection and operation of necessary machines in electromechanical system and hydromechanical is being constructed in the academy. Chairman Acharya informed that the course will be designed to produce the required manpower for the hydropower projects with job guarantee.
The problem is expected to be solved after the operation of the academy as there is a shortage of manpower for the operation of the power house after the generation of hydropower and some projects have to be brought from abroad. ‘180 projects of 3,000 MW are under construction across the country. It has two lakh manpower ranging from skilled to salaried. Of these, 10,000 are technicians in hydro and electromechanical, most of them engineers from India and China, ‘said Ashish Garg, vice-president of IPPAN.’ The manpower will be produced in Nepal through hydropower operation and management courses. ‘
After bringing the machine from abroad in the electromechanical system, foreign technical team is required for 100 percent connection and operation. Manpower will be available in the country after the course operation.
Chief of Dhunibensi Municipality Bal Krishna Acharya, Head of Commerce of the German Embassy Simon Maximilian and others said that the school would help in producing skilled manpower.
