MONEY»
17 hydro firms vie for license
KATHMANDU, AUG 25 -
The first month of the current fiscal year saw 17 hydropower developers applying to the Department of Electricity Development (DoED) for license. DoED statistics show three developers—all Nepali—applied for hydro projects above 100 MW in the first month of this fiscal year. The DoED is the sole authority to issue licenses to the hydropower developers.
Of them, Muktishree Energy Pvt Ltd has applied for 667 MW Bheri-4 in Salyan while Water Creation Pvt. Ltd has sought license for 420 MW Humla Karnali Hydroelectric Project located in Simikot district. Likewise, Navyug Urja Pvt Ltd is vying for Dudhkoshi Hydroelectric Project (105 MW) located in Solukhumbu district.
There was only one application submitted for the survey licenses for the hydro project with capacity between 25 MW to 100 MW. Chandan Holding Pvt Ltd has applied for Bharbun Khola Hydroelectric Project (30 MW) that is situated in Dolpa district.
The DoED statistics show more applications have been received for the smaller hydro projects. There were five applications for hydro projects with capacity between 1 MW to 25 MW. The hydro projects that have attracted interest of private developers are Hewa-Sewa Khola Hydroelectric Project (3 MW) in Sankhuwasabha, Kinja Marbu Hydroelectric Project (4.6 MW) in Solukhumbu, Middle Balephi Hydroelectric Project (7.5 MW) in Sindupalchowk and Upper Bharbun (20 MW) in Dolpa, Phakphok Khola (2.2 MW) in Illam.
With Nepali private sectors showing capability to develop and run small and micro hydel projects, it is no surprise that DoED received more applications for hydel projects below 1 MW. The same was evident from the DoED’s data which show it got eight applications for below 1MW projects. The rush to gett licenses for hydel projects started after Jana Andolan 2. The then government had initiated the process of granting licenses to private players, including foreign pnes. Private players mainly from India showed interest in acquiring hydel projects in Nepal.
The DoED had received eight applications for hydro projects over 100 MW in 2009-10. Also, there were 17 applications to the DoED for hydro projects between 25 MW to 100 MW.
The DoED’s statistics show there was rush for acquiring small hydro projects in the last fiscal year also. DoED received 374 applications for hydro projects below 25 MW that year. Of them, 157 applications were for hydro projects of 1-25 MW and 217 applications for projects below 1 MW.
Leading Indian players like Reliance, Tata Power, GMR Group, Jindal, Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam, Larsen & Toubro, KSK Energy, Bhilwara Energy Ltd and JSW Energy applied for the license of various hydro projects. Most of them applied for large power projects. Of them, Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam of India got the license for constructing 402 MW Arun 3 while GMR Group of India received license for 300 MW Upper Karnali.
Posted on: 2010-08-26 08:35
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