Three hydropower projects of 29.72 MW received the government approval for construction during one month of mid-January and mid-February.

According to the Department of Electricity Development (DoED), three private sector-promoted projects were given licenses after they completed all the preliminary requirements. Of these, the 4.9 MW Pikhuwa Khola Hydropower Project to be built in Bhojpur is promoted by Sumnima Hydropower Company.

Similarly, the 11.52 MW Small Bheri Hydropower Project will be built in the Small Bheri River in Rukum district. Expert Hydro Investment is the developer of the project. Likewise, the 9.30 MW Shiva Khola Hydropower Project is Taplejung-based project to be constructed by Mewa Developers Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of CE Group of Companies.

In the first seven months of the current fiscal year, the DoED issued construction licenses to 17 hydropower projects, producing 519.24 MW of electricity. Till date, 235 private sector-promoted projects have received the government permission to produce 8,665.36 MW of electricity.

Meanwhile, four other hydropower projects with a proposed capacity of 71.08 MW applied at the DoED for the construction license last month. These include 9.48 MW Lower Dudhkunda Hydropower, 12.50 MW Myagdi Khola-B Hydropower, 8.80 MW Nisi Khola Hydropower and 40.03 MW Upper Simbuwa Khola Hydropower projects.

In the review period, two hydropower projects of 20 MW received survey licenses. They were the 15 MW Middle Iwa Khola Hydropower Project and the 4.99 MW Lapkhola Hydropower Project.

Likewise, two hydropower projects applied at the department seeking to receive survey licenses. The 4.10 MW Super Sabha Khola Small Hydropower Project and the 200 MW Upper Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project were among the applicants in this category.