KATHMANDU, MAY 28, 2012
As many as 29 hydro-power projects, with a combined capacity of 2,463 MW, have applied for construction license at the Department of Electricity as of the 10th month of this fiscal year, record shows.
During the same period last year, only eight companies had applied for the license. “The surge in the number of applicants suggests that the ongoing power crisis will come to an end sooner or later,” said Dilli Bahadur Singh, director general at the department. Hydro-power companies apply for construction license after they complete their financial closure, environmental impact assessment and power purchase agreement. Projects go into the construction phase after acquiring the license.
A majority of the projects are smaller ones. Of the 29 projects, only six are above 100 MW. Among the big hydro-power projects are Tamakoshi III (650 MW), Upper Marshyangdi (600 MW), Upper Trishuli I (216 MW), Kaligandaki Gorge Project (160 MW) and Upper Tamor (415 MW).
Tamakoshi III is being developed by SN Power and Upper Marshyandi by India’s GMR. The projects are currently waiting for power development agreement (PDA) negotiation. The negotiation for Tamakoshi III has been stalled for almost three years. The government on Saturday handed these two projects to the Investment Board to expedite their PDA negotiations.
According to the department, seven of the applicant projects have capacities between 10 MW and 100 MW. They include Nyasim Khola (21MW), Likhu II (55MW), Likhu I (77MW), Khani Khola (30 MW) and Lower Hewa project (10 MW).
Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, chairman of the Energy Council at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the growing number of license applicants was a positive sign. He, however, cautioned that some of the developers were not in a position to start construction because of low PPA rate. “They are only coming to the construction phase to protect their project development license,” he said.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
As many as 29 hydro-power projects, with a combined capacity of 2,463 MW, have applied for construction license at the Department of Electricity as of the 10th month of this fiscal year, record shows.
During the same period last year, only eight companies had applied for the license. “The surge in the number of applicants suggests that the ongoing power crisis will come to an end sooner or later,” said Dilli Bahadur Singh, director general at the department. Hydro-power companies apply for construction license after they complete their financial closure, environmental impact assessment and power purchase agreement. Projects go into the construction phase after acquiring the license.
A majority of the projects are smaller ones. Of the 29 projects, only six are above 100 MW. Among the big hydro-power projects are Tamakoshi III (650 MW), Upper Marshyangdi (600 MW), Upper Trishuli I (216 MW), Kaligandaki Gorge Project (160 MW) and Upper Tamor (415 MW).
Tamakoshi III is being developed by SN Power and Upper Marshyandi by India’s GMR. The projects are currently waiting for power development agreement (PDA) negotiation. The negotiation for Tamakoshi III has been stalled for almost three years. The government on Saturday handed these two projects to the Investment Board to expedite their PDA negotiations.
According to the department, seven of the applicant projects have capacities between 10 MW and 100 MW. They include Nyasim Khola (21MW), Likhu II (55MW), Likhu I (77MW), Khani Khola (30 MW) and Lower Hewa project (10 MW).
Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, chairman of the Energy Council at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the growing number of license applicants was a positive sign. He, however, cautioned that some of the developers were not in a position to start construction because of low PPA rate. “They are only coming to the construction phase to protect their project development license,” he said.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
No comments:
Post a Comment