NHPC Ltd, India, on Thursday submitted an inception report of the 750 MW West Seti Hydroelectric Project to the Investment Board Nepal (IBN).

According to the IBN, the Indian company finalized the preliminary report within the stipulated time as prescribed in the memorandum of understanding signed by the company with the IBN. The preliminary study report has estimated the total cost of construction of the 750 MW West Seti Reservoir Hydropower Project and 450 MW Seti River 6 hydropower project at INR 80 billion.

The IBN signed the agreement with the NHPC on August 18, 2022. Subsequently, the IBN on October 20 permitted the Indian company to carry out a preliminary study of the 750 MW West Seti Reservoir Hydropower Project and submit a report within three months.

The government has listed the West Seti Project as the project of national pride. The NHPC will be submitting the detailed project report of the West Seti in the next 21 months. The company has also been awarded the contract to study the 450 MW Seti River 6 hydropower project.

NHPC is reported to have signed a power purchase agreement with Power Trade Corporation India Limited (PTC), an entity of the Indian government, to sell its production. According to the agreement, Nepal will get 21.9 percent free energy from the West Seti Hydropower Project.

The 750 MW West Seti Project will be constructed on the Seti River in Far-west Nepal. The dam site will be located 82 kilometers (km) upstream of the confluence of the Seti and Karnali rivers.

All project sites, excluding the reservoir area and transmission line corridor, will be located in Doti and Dadeldhura districts. While the reservoir will be located in Baitadi and Bajhang districts, the transmission line corridor will be situated across Doti, Dadeldhura, Kailali, and Kanchanpur districts.