Over 100 hydro projects of 2,300 MW under construction

Kathmandu, Aug 25 – As many as 107 hydro projects of 2,356 MW capacities are under construction in Nepal.

According to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), these projects are under different phases of construction. Most of these are being completed in a year.

The Upper Tamakoshi, which is listed in the national pride project, is being completed this year. Although it was expected to be completed by coming mid January, the project is however likely to go beyond this date, said NEA publication brought on its 33rd anniversary.

The government targets to generate 3,000 MW of electricity in the next three years and increase this quantity to 5,000 MW by the next five years. The details of the progress on the under-construction projects show that the target would be met easily.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barshaman Pun pledged to extend all sorts of support to complete the projects in time.

NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising said monitoring of and necessary felicitations regarding the projects are taking place on a regular basis. “If thing are going as per the details provided to us, the government is likely to meet the target easily.”

The government has promised an access of electricity in all areas of the country. Utilization of biogas, solar plants, and wind energy is on the government priority. Likewise, generation of energy from waste has already begun.

According to NEA, 74 projects with the capacity of producing 1,658 MW of electricity are in the wait for financial management to go for implementation phase.

The NEA has annulled its power purchase agreement with two small hydropower projects- Narayani Shankar Biomas and Tame Stream.