Sankhuwasabha — Energy Ministers Inspect Progress of Arun III Hydropower Project. Energy Minister of Nepal, Deepak Khadka, and India’s Minister of Power, Manohar Lal Khattar, conducted a joint inspection of the 900-megawatt Arun III hydropower project in Makalu Rural Municipality, Sankhuwasabha. The ministers arrived at the dam site via an army helicopter on Tuesday, where they were briefed on the project’s physical progress, including the tunnel route and ongoing construction activities. The visit also included an inspection of the under-construction powerhouse in Chichila.
Highlighting Nepal’s vast potential in hydropower, Minister Khattar remarked that energy development could be a key driver of prosperity for both Nepal and India. He emphasized the importance of accelerating the construction of the Arun III project and reiterated the Indian government’s readiness to invest further in Nepal’s energy sector.
Minister Khattar is on a two-day official visit to Nepal at the invitation of Minister Khadka. The Arun III project, which is being developed with Indian investment, remains a flagship initiative in the bilateral cooperation between the two nations. As part of the visit, the two ministers jointly inaugurated Unit-2 of the project.
During the inspection, representatives from the contractor company provided updates on construction milestones and shared the challenges being faced on the ground. Minister Khadka thanked the Indian government for its continued support in Nepal’s energy development and stressed the project’s national importance. He called for timely completion and assured that the government would take all necessary measures to avoid delays.
The Arun III hydropower project, with a capacity of 900 megawatts, is situated along the border of Makalu and Chichila rural municipalities. Jointly inaugurated in April 2018 by then Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the project has an estimated cost of NPR 104 billion and is being implemented by India’s SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam) hydropower company. The original target for completion was within five years.
Source: Kantipur
