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The Dudhkoshi Hydropower Company Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority, has brought the 670 MW Dudhkoshi Reservoir Hydropower Project - being developed in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank - back into international focus.

A live consultation meeting is scheduled for April 27, 2026, at Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, aimed at advancing the project. The event is expected to see active participation from contractors and consulting firms.

At a time when the importance of large reservoir-based projects is growing in Nepal’s energy sector, the Dudhkoshi project is considered strategically significant for long-term power generation and energy security. With its ability to generate stable electricity year-round, the project is viewed not only as a means to meet domestic demand but also as a foundation for making Nepal competitive in the regional energy market in the future.

With technical and financial support from ADB, the project is preparing to adopt international standards in design, procurement processes, and implementation frameworks. The upcoming consultation meeting is seen as a key step in that direction, where government officials, ADB representatives, and energy experts will present their views, while feedback will be collected through direct interaction with contractors and consultants.

The program will include detailed presentations on the project and the role of the Nepal Electricity Authority, insights into ADB’s Nepal strategy, and discussions on procurement and implementation strategies. In the afternoon session, participating organizations will have one-on-one interaction opportunities, making it an important platform for potential investors.

In recent years, interest from foreign and multilateral development partners in Nepal’s hydropower sector has been increasing. Large-scale projects like Dudhkoshi are expected to bring both new opportunities and challenges in terms of technical expertise, financial investment, and implementation capacity. However, past experience shows that timely execution, environmental and social management, and mobilizing large-scale investment remain persistent challenges.

Thus, the upcoming consultation meeting on the Dudhkoshi Reservoir Hydropower Project is seen not merely as a formal discussion, but as a potentially strategic dialogue that could shape Nepal’s energy future - helping the country move toward self-reliance and eventually toward energy exports.

Jalasarokar