Kathmandu, Sept. 1
Sani Bheri
Hydro Hydropower Project has secured a loan investment of Rs. 7.2 billion from
a consortium of banks led by Citizen Bank International.
The promoter
of the project Expert Hydro Investment Pvt. Ltd. signed a joint investment
agreement with the banks – led by Citizens in partnership with Nabil Bank,
Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Siddhartha Bank, and Sanima Bank – in Kathmandu on
Monday to finance the construction of the 44.52 MW hydroelectricity project.
According to
the deal, banks and financial institutions will contribute 75 per cent of the
funding, while promoters will bear the remaining 25 per cent.
As per the
agreement, Citizens Bank will provide Rs. 2.5 billion, Nabil Bank Rs. 1.5
billion, Nepal Investment Mega Bank Rs. 1.2 billion, Siddhartha Bank Rs. 1
billion, and Sanima Bank Rs. 1 billion. The project promoter, Expert Hydro
Investment, will contribute Rs. 2.4 billion.
The loan
investment agreement was signed by the company’s Managing Director Santosh Raj
Nepal and Citizen Banks' Chief Infrastructure/Consortium and Corporate Banking
Officer, Roshan Malla and chief finance officers of the participating banks.
Chairman of
Expert Hydro Investment, Angish Ghimire and Citizens Bank CEO Ganesh Prasad
Pokharel as well as the CEOs and CFOs of the participating banks were present
on the occasion.
The project
is expected to be completed within three and a half years of the starting of
construction work. Electricity generated from the project will be evacuated
through a 23-km-long, 132 kV double-circuit transmission line connecting the
project’s switchyard to the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Banfikot substation.
It is
estimated to supply 98.727 GWh during the dry season and 182.386 GWh during the
wet season, contributing a total of 281.113 GWh annually to the national grid.
The Sani Bheri
Hydropower Project will utilise water from the Sani Bheri River flowing through
Putha Uttarganga and Sisne rural municipalities in Rukum East district.
Siddhi
Hydropower Company Ltd. is the main investor, while there will be contributions
from Nepali entrepreneurs at home and abroad as well as the general public,
informed the company.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 September 2025.
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