Kathmandu, Sept. 26: Upper
Marsyangdi ‘A’ hydroelectricity project Monday started generating
electricity.
Minister for Energy Janardan
Sharma Pravakar announced the commencement of power generation by the project.
With it 25 megawatt electricity
has been connected to the national grid.
The hydropower project with 50
MW capacity in Bhulbhule VDC of Lamjung district was constructed by a Chinese
and Nepali joint venture company Sinohydro-Sagarmatha Power Company (SSPC).
Sinohydro is the sister company
of China’s
state-owned PowerChina Resources Limited and Sagarmatha is the sister company
of Chitwan Co-E. These companies have 90 per cent and 10 per cent share in the
project respectively.
The company organized special events
in Kathmandu and at the project site to mark the power
generation of the project.
According to chairman of
Sagarmatha Power Company Raju Babu Shrestha, the run-of-river based project was
developed at the cost of Rs. 16 billion.
The cost includes the investment
in constructing 132 KV single circuit transmission line, 20 km, from the
powerhouse to Mid-Marsyangdi Hydropower Project.
The company has completed the
construction of the transmission line in just six months, said managing
director of SSPC Chen Wen.
He said that only two turbines
were in operation currently and within a couple of months other two would start
functioning.
Due to delay in construction of transmission
lines and other technical difficulties, the company couldn’t run all the turbines.
The project was started in
October 2012 and expected to be completed in December last year.
The company signed power
purchase agreement (PPA) with the Nepal Electricity Authority in January 2010
and obtained license for electricity production.
“But, the earthquakes and
obstruction at the border affected the construction works at the project site
which delayed the completion,” said Sheng Yuming, chairman of PowerChina.
Minister Pravakar said that the
power generation of the Upper Marsyangdi ‘A’ came as the
relief to Nepali people in the time of festivals.
He appreciated the partnership
between Sagarmatha and Sinohydro and said that it would remain as a model for
future endeavours of joint-ventures.
“This will send message to other
investor that Nepal
is safe for investment. It has opened new avenues for the energy sector
development,” said the Minister.
He urged the Chinese investors
to help Nepal
in developing hydropower projects in Karnali.
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