NEA yet to give Upper Marsyangdi A operation date

Lamjung, November 8

The 50 MW Upper Marsyangdi A Hydro-power Project at Bulbhule of Lamjung has been waiting for the Nepal Electricity Authority to set a date for it to begin commercial operation.

The project had supplied 25 MW power to the national transmission line on September 26. According to sources, the NEA has been delaying the project’s commercial operation, saying the project had yet to undergo electro-mechanical and hydro-mechanical tests.

The project had agreed to supply power free of cost to the NEA for a week.

As per Subarna Sapkota, assistant manager of the project, though the project has the capacity to generate 50 MW electricity, it will generate only 25 MW for three months as the NEA has not increased capacity of the transmission line.

The project was constructed by a Chinese and Nepali joint venture company Sinohydro-Sagarmatha Power Company. 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 stake in the project respectively. The project was built at the cost of Rs 16 billion.