Kathmandu, 13 February: The 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project under construction in Rasuwa has stated that it has so far spent approximately Rs 170 million through the community support program in the affected areas.
Technical Director Giriraj Adhikari informed that the project promoter, Nepal Water and Energy Development Company, has been providing assistance to the affected areas through programs including education, health, drinking water, road infrastructure, cultural preservation, relief distribution, livelihood and income generation under the Corporate Social Responsibility and Indigenous Community Planning Program.
Under the leadership of a Korean company, the dam and other structures of the Hakuma project in Amachodingmo Rural Municipality-1 of Rasuwa and the underground power house and other structures in Uttargaya Rural Municipality-1 are under construction with direct foreign investment. Upper Trishuli-1, where the generated electricity will be used for domestic consumption, is the largest project under construction with direct foreign investment. In the project area, which was badly affected by the 2072 BS earthquake, the company had distributed relief materials to earthquake victims and constructed temporary housing, constructed buildings for schools and health institutions, conducted rescue operations by helicopter, and conducted health camps.
The company has stated that it has implemented a separate plan considering the location, environment and cultural characteristics of the indigenous communities affected by the project. Through this plan, a budget has been arranged to run programs selected by the community itself. It is said that more than Rs 20 million has been spent through this so far.
The company’s CEO, Byung Su Min, said that the community support program was implemented with special attention to improving the economic and social conditions of the project-affected people, employment and livelihood, and development of the area. He said that the project is implementing the support program by selecting projects based on priorities as per the demands of the local residents and this will be continued.
The project has spent Rs 78.614 crore to construct a bailey bridge over the Trishuli River in Hakubesi. After the construction of the bridge, road access has been established for the residents of the Haku area in Wards 1 and 2 of Amachhodingmo Rural Municipality, making it easier to travel to the district headquarters Dhunche, Nuwakot and Kathmandu. Rs 1.857 lakh has been spent for road construction in the affected area. In addition, it is said that an additional Rs 70 lakh has been spent for the construction of the Dhunche-Kholdol road.
For the educational improvement of the affected areas, work has been done including construction of school buildings and distribution of educational materials. In addition, one teacher has been provided to each of the three schools in Haku since 2018. The project has been supporting the construction of buildings including monasteries and other programs to preserve and promote the cultural traditions of the indigenous peoples of the area, informed Technical Director Adhikari.
The promoter of the project, Nepal Water and Energy Development Company, has shares invested by the Korean government-owned Koen, the International Finance Corporation under the World Bank Group, and others. The project has been financed by 70 percent debt and 30 percent equity. Nine international financial institutions have signed agreements to invest 453.2 million US dollars in the project, which has a total estimated cost of 647.3 million US dollars (including interest during the construction period). The remaining amount has been raised through equity.
The project will generate 1.53 billion 31 million units of energy annually. Of the total annual energy, 38.75 percent will be generated in the winter season and 61.25 percent in the rainy season. The generated energy will be connected to the Trishuli-3 ‘B’ hub substation being constructed by the Nepal Electricity Authority and fed into the national transmission system. The power purchase agreement between the company and the authority has been concluded.
The project is considered very attractive for the country’s electricity system as it is close to the Kathmandu load center and will generate 104 MW of electricity even in winter, when electricity demand is high. The project will generate 104 MW of stable (farm) energy throughout the year. The project is targeted to be completed by Mangsir 2083 BS.
