Blog 3 - Energy/Alternative Energy - Hydropower in Nepal

This article discussed how the Nepal Investment Board (NIB) submitted project proposals during a board of directors meeting to address the passage of several infrastructure projects they hope to get started as soon as possible.  Included in these projects is finalizing project development agreements of four major hydropower plants.  These plants, the 650 MW Tamakoshi III, 900 MW Upper Karnali, 600 MW Upper Marsyangdi and 900 MW Arun III are being developed by major power developers including Sutlej and SN power, a Norwegian power plant.  The NIB is an organization that is only a little over a year old was established to implement mega-projects such as this.   The investment board is also under pressure from government officials to get these projects going.

A downside to this article is that there was not much information provided.  It would have been nice to know whom hydropower plants will serve and how man or why hydropower was their best option.  The article also didn’t go into pricing or location detail.  Learning these aspects of the proposed plants as the process continues would be very interesting. 

            Something that stands out about this article to me is that the government is pushing for these hydropower plants to quickly begin production.  In many other articles I’ve read the government seems to be hesitant to begin alternative energy projects such as this, but with NIB and the pressure form the line ministry it seems that in this specific area alternative energy is high on the agenda.  It will be interesting to learn whether this area invests in other alternative energy projects with as much force as their proposed hydropower plants. 

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49546