KATHMANDU, AUGUST 24
Bangladesh has expressed interest to invest in the 683-megawatt (MW) Sunkoshi-III Semi-Reservoir Project in the Sunkoshi River on the border of Ramechhap and Kavre districts.
Following the field observation of the proposed Sunkoshi III project site on Tuesday, Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh Mohammad Habibur Rahman said that Bangladesh government is keen and ready to proceed with the construction of hydropower projects including Sunkoshi-III in cooperation with Nepal.
"Bangladesh is ready to advance Sunkoshi as a pilot project with the investment of both countries and we're sincere and serious about investing in the project," Rahman said, adding, "We're also willing to invest in the 1720 MW Khimti Shivalaya Reservoir located in Dolakha and Ramechhap districts. Additionally, the private sector of both countries can also invest in hydropower projects."
The estimated cost of the Sunkoshi-III Semi-Reservoir Project is $1.458 billion. Nepal had proposed five hydropower projects to Bangladesh for cooperation during the secretary-level joint working group meeting held on August 10, 2018. In the first phase of the meeting, it was agreed to conduct a joint on-site visit of the project to advance Sunkoshi III.
Rahman further stated that a concrete decision will be taken after discussing the Sunkoshi project in detail during the energy talks.
Stating that the Sunkoshi-III project is in its initial stage, Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kulman Ghising emphasised that such projects should be built with joint investment between the two countries.
Likewise, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal said that the high-level mechanism formed for cooperation in the energy sector will finalise the issues of electricity trade with Bangladesh and investment in the project.
Meanwhile, House of Representative member-elect from Ramechap Shyam Shrestha, Sunapati Rural Municipality Chairperson Thulakancha Tamang and leaders of local political parties and other stakeholders pledged to provide necessary support and local cooperation for construction of the project.
Director General of Department of Electricity Development Sandeep Dev and Deputy Director General of the department Sanjay Dhungel had apprised about the study findings of the project so far, features, affected areas, among others.
The department has completed the feasibility study of the project. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the project is in the process of approval.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) identified the project in 1985 during the Koshi River Water Resources Development Study, which was updated in 2014.
As per the plan, the 683MW project will have its dam at Lubhughat in the Sunkoshi River on the border of Ramechhap and Kavre. The dam will be 160 metres wide and 180 metres high.
Water from the dam will be channelled through 2.4 metre-long tunnels to the production house at Titretar of Temal Rural Municipality in Kavre.
The power produced from the project will be linked to the national transmission line.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 25, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
