"Khimti 1 is the first private sector project under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) scheme after Nepal adopted a market economy in 1990 and opened the electricity sector for private investments.
"Khimti 1 plant started commercial operation on July 11, 2000 and has so far generated around four billion units of electricity," HPL said, adding that it has been operated with close to 100 per cent availability and reliability for 10 years now.
In accordance with the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), by July 2020 half of the Khimti I project will be handed over to NEA for a symbolic 1 Rupee.
Although production of electricity is the core business, HPL has also focused strongly on addressing community development needs through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, it added.
Electricity has been provided to over 4,600 rural households through a 635 kW mini-hydropower plant. Presently 3,800 more households are being added and another 400 kW power plant is planned. Infrastructure created during the implementation of these Rural Electrification programmes has been handed over to the Khimti Rural Electric Cooperative (KREC), a member-owned and democratically managed cooperative.
The cooperative, the first of its kind and a model cooperative in Nepal, was based on highly successful cooperative models from USA and Bangladesh.
HPL has supported several schools in the districts of Dolakha and Ramechhap; with the Khimti Project School showing excellent results in the SLC exams, said the hydropower company that has aided numerous drinking water systems, toilets including bio-gas, agricultural and forestry projects, income generation training, women’s empowerment and irrigation systems have been implemented through the CSR efforts in the local communities.
A good example is the Halua Khola Irrigation System which has been in operation for eight years. The system supplies the village of Gogantar, consisting of approximately 100 households, with water for agriculture and has enabled the annual crops to be increased many fold.
"HPL supports local industry and the strengthening of competence within the Hydro Power field through the utilisation of expertise from such institutions as Hydro Lab and by supporting the establishment of a Turbine Lab in Kathmandu University," according to the hydropower company.
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