Power utility opens PPA for 4,965 MW across 54 hydropower projects, sets 30-day deadline

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has opened Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 4,965 megawatts (MW) of electricity, encompassing 54 hydropower projects, following a decision made by its Board of Directors on Tuesday. The initiative targets projects that completed Grid Connection Agreements by February 24, 2025 (Falgun 12, 2081).

Executive Director Hitendra Dev Shakya, on his first day in office, chaired the meeting that greenlit the PPAs for these grid-connected projects. The NEA has set a 30-day deadline for project developers to submit all required documentation to its Electricity Trade Department.

The required documents include company registration certificates, PAN certificates, articles of association, company bylaws, industry registration certificates, tax clearance certificates, valid electricity survey licenses, shareholding details, project construction timelines, and Grid Connection Agreements. Of the 54 projects, 38 are run-of-the-river (ROR) with a combined capacity of 1,858 MW, and 16 are storage-based, contributing 3,107 MW.

Historically, the NEA prioritized PPAs for projects under 10 MW, leaving larger projects pending, making this a significant step to boost Nepal’s energy capacity.

Below are the details of the 54 hydropower projects:

Run-of-the-River (ROR) Projects (1,858 MW, 38 Projects):

Chameliaya (Grid Nepal Company Pvt. Ltd.) – 85 MW, located in Darchula District, a key project in far-western Nepal.

Upper Trishuli-2 (Upper Trishuli Hydropower Ltd.) – 102 MW, situated in Rasuwa District, part of the Trishuli River system.

Himchuli Dordi (People’s Hydropower Company Ltd.) – 57 MW, in Lamjung District, harnessing the Dordi River.

Dordi Dudh (Goma Ganesh Hydropower Pvt. Ltd.) – 19 MW, also in Lamjung, a smaller Dordi River project.

Lower Apsuwa (Miju Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 54 MW, located in Sankhuwasabha District, tapping the Apsuwa River.

Simbuwa Khola (Simbuwa Remit Hydro Ltd.) – 69.4 MW, in Taplejung District, utilizing the Simbuwa River.

Budhigandaki (Surya Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 91.1 MW, spanning Gorkha and Dhading Districts, a significant ROR project.

Upper Tamor-A (Union Hydropower Ltd.) – 60 MW, in Taplejung District, part of the Tamor River basin.

Myagdi Khola-B (Susmit Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 12.5 MW, in Myagdi District, a smaller Myagdi River project.

Upper Kabeli-2 (Arun Valley Hydropower Development Company Ltd.) – 14.5 MW, in Panchthar District, on the Kabeli River.

Badigadh (Liberty Energy Company Pvt. Ltd.) – 24.6 MW, in Baglung District, harnessing the Badigadh River.

Chhilung Khola (Hanuman Hydropower Pvt. Ltd.) – 43.2 MW, in Sankhuwasabha District, on the Chhilung River.

Tatopani Khola (Hanuman Hydropower Pvt. Ltd.) – 19 MW, in Jumla District, utilizing the Tatopani River.

Irkhuwa Khola (Eastern Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 15 MW, in Bhojpur District, on the Irkhuwa River.

Mid Mailung (Upper Mailung Khola Hydropower) – 13 MW, in Rasuwa District, part of the Mailung River system.

Simbuwa Khola Upper (Simbuwa Hydropower Pvt. Ltd.) – 40 MW, in Taplejung District, another Simbuwa River project.

Myagdi Khola-A (Dordi Khola Hydropower Company Ltd.) – 23.7 MW, in Myagdi District, on the Myagdi River.

Tamor Khola (Nepal Hydroventure Pvt. Ltd.) – 35.2 MW, in Taplejung District, part of the Tamor basin.

Hongu Khola-1 (IB Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 29.9 MW, in Solukhumbu District, on the Hongu River.

Super Inkh (Dordi Khola Hydropower Company Ltd.) – 22 MW, in Khotang District, utilizing the Inkh River.

Upper Inkh (Universal Power Company Ltd.) – 24.2 MW, also in Khotang, another Inkh River project.

Budum Khola (Arun Valley Hydropower Development Company Ltd.) – 14.5 MW, in Sankhuwasabha District, on the Budum River.

Rolwaling (Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower) – 20.6 MW, in Dolakha District, part of the Rolwaling River system.

Super Palung (Prakash Solution Pvt. Ltd.) – 35.3 MW, in Makwanpur District, on the Palung River.

Upper Mailung-B (Sanima Hydropower Ltd.) – 17 MW, in Rasuwa District, another Mailung River project.

Palung Khola-1 (Trust Energy Ltd.) – 30 MW, in Makwanpur District, on the Palung River.

Likhu 4A Cascade (Green Ventures Ltd.) – 12.2 MW, in Ramechhap District, part of the Likhu River cascade.

Myagdi (Myagdi Khola Hydropower Company Pvt. Ltd.) – 27.5 MW, in Myagdi District, on the Myagdi River.

Uppallo Rurubanchu (Rurugadh Power Company Ltd.) – 19.6 MW, in Surkhet District, on the Rurubanchu River.

Upper Mudi Khola (Fresh Water Energy) – 12.7 MW, in Kaski District, on the Mudi River.

Upper Sunigadh (Omega Energy Developer Pvt. Ltd.) – 14 MW, in Kalikot District, on the Sunigadh River.

Trishuli Galchhi (Api Power Company Ltd.) – 30 MW, in Nuwakot District, part of the Trishuli River system.

Likhu Khola (Ujyalo Energy Solution Pvt. Ltd.) – 36 MW, in Ramechhap District, on the Likhu River.

Sani Bheri-3 PROR Cascade (Sani Bheri Hydropower Company Pvt. Ltd.) – 29.8 MW, in Rukum District, on the Sani Bheri River.

Upper Chuwa Lurupya (Nepal Portfolio Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 110.02 MW, in Mustang District, on the Chuwa River.

Chuwa Khola Cascade (Bijbeli Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 98.1 MW, also in Mustang, part of the Chuwa River cascade.

Tejo Thogam (Snofal Hydropower Ltd.) – 28.9 MW, in Manang District, a smaller ROR project.

Super Seti (Sun Star Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 46 MW, in Kaski District, on the Seti River.

Storage-Based (Reservoir) Projects (3,107 MW, 16 Projects):

Upper Arun (Upper Arun Hydroelectricity Project) – 1,061 MW, in Sankhuwasabha District, a major storage project on the Arun River.

FukoT Karnali (Electricity Generation Company Ltd.) – 480 MW, in Kalikot District, a significant Karnali River project.

Bethan Karnali (Bethan Karnali Sanchayakarta Hydropower Company Ltd.) – 442 MW, in Surkhet District, another large Karnali basin project.

Upper Marsyangdi-2 (Himtal Hydropower Company Pvt. Ltd.) – 327 MW, in Lamjung District, on the Marsyangdi River.

Chainpur Seti (Chainpur Seti Hydropower Company Ltd.) – 210 MW, in Bajhang District, on the Seti River.

Surke Dudhkoshi (Sumit Power Company Pvt. Ltd.) – 188 MW, in Solukhumbu District, on the Dudhkoshi River.

Dudhkoshi-6 (Sagarmatha Hydropower Pvt. Ltd.) – 171 MW, also in Solukhumbu, another Dudhkoshi project.

Dudhkoshi-9 (Urja Developers Pvt. Ltd.) – 166 MW, in Solukhumbu District, part of the Dudhkoshi series.

Upper Chuwa Lurupya (Nepal Portfolio Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 110.02 MW, in Mustang District, a semi-reservoir project on the Chuwa River.

Seti Nadi-3 (Chilime Hydro Company Ltd.) – 86.2 MW, in Kaski District, on the Seti River.

Rolwaling Khola (HED Energy Pvt. Ltd.) – 81.3 MW, in Dolakha District, on the Rolwaling River.

Budhi Gandaki Pork (Chilime Hydropower Company Ltd.) – 81 MW, in Gorkha District, on the Budhi Gandaki River.

Dudh Koshi-5 (Independent Hydropower Pvt. Ltd.) – 95.3 MW, in Solukhumbu District, another Dudhkoshi project.

Bheri River (Bheri Babai Multipurpose Project) – 46.8 MW, in Surkhet District, a multipurpose project on the Bheri River.

Chumchet Syarkhola (Chilime Hydropower Company Ltd.) – 45 MW, in Gorkha District, on the Syarkhola River.

Supreme Midel Seti (KCJ Hotels & Multipurpose Pvt. Ltd.) – 18 MW, in Kaski District, a smaller Seti River project.

The PPA window aims to accelerate Nepal’s hydropower development, addressing the country’s energy needs and export potential. However, the tight 30-day deadline has sparked concerns among developers, given the extensive documentation required and potential bureaucratic delays.