KATHMANDU, May 24:
The international promoters have proposed for the development of five different hydro-power projects within the next five years keeping in view of load-shedding problem in Nepal.
The promoters have proposed for forwarding the projects, which are expected to be very important at a time when the industries were not operating in full scale due to acute power crisis, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
The five lucrative projects aiming to sell electricity especially in the winter season include Tila-I, Tila-II, Upper Marsyangdi, Manang-Marsyangdi and Lower Arun. Brazilian Brass Power and Indian promoters have showed their interests for the construction of these hydropower proejcts.
The Himal Hydro is the local partner for the construction of the Tila-I (440 megawatt) and Tila-II (420 megawatt). Tila Hydroelectric Company and KSK Energy Venture have also jointly proposed for the construction of the two projects.
Similarly, different local and international companies have expressed their interest to construct the Lower Arun (400 megawatt), Upper, Manang-Marsyangdi (282 megawatt) and Marsyangdi (138 megawatt) hydel proejcts.
As per the proposal the foreign power promoters would sell electricity to the NEA in five months during the winter season while they would sell the power to India in the rest of the months, said Hitendra Dev Shakya, Chief of NEA Business Division. Indian Rajratna Company has also proposed for the construction two of the five projects.
However, Shakya said the promoters have demanded that the power purchase agreement (PPA) be made in the US dollar which the NEA has rejected. He said, “We are not in condition of signing the PPA in the US Dollar, and are for doing in local currency. We have been continuing the discussions in this regard for over a month.”
It is learnt that the government will purchase the power at Rs 10.6 per unit as per the agreement.
At the same time, the experts in the sector have expressed their doubt whether the projects have brought such proposals just for extending their term of license for power production.
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