For the first time, the government has feted the private power producers for their contribution to the development of hydropower in the country.
On the 24th anniversary of the establishment of Department of Electricity Development (DoED), the government and Independent Power Producers' Association Nepal (IPPAN) today jointly conferred certificates of appreciation to the independent power producers that operate 58 power plants and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) that operates 14 plants.
"All the power plants are now connected to the national grid," said director general of the department Nabin Raj Singh. He also briefed about the fast track licensing services. "The department is now focusing on the study of mega hydropower projects and enhanced supervision and monitoring of the works," Singh added.
The department was formed after the government opened hydropower generation to the private sector that has now an installed capacity almost equal to the government-owned power utility NEA.
"This is the first time the hydropower producers were collectively appreciated for their contribution," according to an architect of the domestically-financed Chilime Hydropower Project Dambar Nepali.
“It's a matter of pride for us to see so many developers from the private sector engaged in hydropower generation in the country,” he added. Nepali is planning to finance and start a large-scale power plant soon.
Promoter of Sanima Hydropower Subarna Das Shrestha, on the occasion, expressed happiness for recognition and pledged to make additional efforts to generate hydropower.
Sanima Hydropower's three plants, with installed capacity of 31.6 megawatts, are in operation currently.
Likewise, president of IPPAN Shailendra Guragain said that the private sector was now engaged in construction of power plants with 3,500 megawatts of installed capacity, with a total commitment of Rs 700 billion. "Construction of these plants will require digging 300-km-long tunnels and constructing 1000-km-long transmission lines,” he added.
Former director general of the department Kishor Babu Aryal, on the occasion, remembered resistance from different quarters to the department's efforts in its early days to help promote private sector. "The establishment of power plants by the private sector itself has proved the success of the department,” he added.
A member of National Planning Commission (NPC) Arbinda Kumar Mishra said that the plan for power generation should be based not in terms of megawatts, but in terms of demand and seasonal variation.
On the 24th anniversary of the establishment of Department of Electricity Development (DoED), the government and Independent Power Producers' Association Nepal (IPPAN) today jointly conferred certificates of appreciation to the independent power producers that operate 58 power plants and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) that operates 14 plants.
"All the power plants are now connected to the national grid," said director general of the department Nabin Raj Singh. He also briefed about the fast track licensing services. "The department is now focusing on the study of mega hydropower projects and enhanced supervision and monitoring of the works," Singh added.
The department was formed after the government opened hydropower generation to the private sector that has now an installed capacity almost equal to the government-owned power utility NEA.
"This is the first time the hydropower producers were collectively appreciated for their contribution," according to an architect of the domestically-financed Chilime Hydropower Project Dambar Nepali.
“It's a matter of pride for us to see so many developers from the private sector engaged in hydropower generation in the country,” he added. Nepali is planning to finance and start a large-scale power plant soon.
Promoter of Sanima Hydropower Subarna Das Shrestha, on the occasion, expressed happiness for recognition and pledged to make additional efforts to generate hydropower.
Sanima Hydropower's three plants, with installed capacity of 31.6 megawatts, are in operation currently.
Likewise, president of IPPAN Shailendra Guragain said that the private sector was now engaged in construction of power plants with 3,500 megawatts of installed capacity, with a total commitment of Rs 700 billion. "Construction of these plants will require digging 300-km-long tunnels and constructing 1000-km-long transmission lines,” he added.
Former director general of the department Kishor Babu Aryal, on the occasion, remembered resistance from different quarters to the department's efforts in its early days to help promote private sector. "The establishment of power plants by the private sector itself has proved the success of the department,” he added.
A member of National Planning Commission (NPC) Arbinda Kumar Mishra said that the plan for power generation should be based not in terms of megawatts, but in terms of demand and seasonal variation.
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