Onlinekhabar English

आश्विन २०७८

Nepal likely to give GMR 2 more years to generate funds for Upper Karnali Hydropower Project

Once again, the government is preparing to allow the Indian company, GMR Group, to spend two more years to generate funds for the ambitious Upper Karnali Hydropower Project. The post Nepal likely to give GMR 2 more years to generate funds for Upper Karnali Hydropower Project appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.

पूर्ण विवरण

सम्बन्धित सामग्री

GMR to complete power sale deal within deadline

GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower Limited, which is developing the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project, has expressed its commitment to conclude the financial closure (FC) and power sale agreement (PSA) within the approved timeline given by the government of Nepal.

The Rising Nepal आषाढ २०७९

PM Deuba’s India visit: These are the seven main agendas

KATHMANDU, March 31: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is scheduled to visit India on April 1. Deuba will be staying in India for three days. According to the Indian Foreign Ministry, PM Deuba is scheduled to visit India on the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. PM Deuba will be accompanied by high level diplomats and government officials including his spouse Arju Rana and Foreign Minister, Dr Narayan Khadka. After being elected as a Prime Minister of the country, Deuba is paying a visit to a foreign country for the first time. PM Deuba is scheduled to call on his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, vice-president of India along with Indian Foreign Minister and Chief of the Security Agency of India. These are the seven main agendas: 1) Border disputes The border disputes, Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiadhura, between India and Nepal are expected to be the main agenda during PM Deuba’s visit. A high-level discussion will be held in this regard. 2) EPG Report of the Eminent Persons’ Group on Nepal-India relation is also to be discussed during PM Deuba’s visit. EPG was formed in 2016 with the aim of strengthening the bilateral ties between India and Nepal and reviewing treaties and agreements. The group had prepared a report in 2018 with various recommendations and suggestions to redefine the bilateral ties between two countries but the report has been ignored as Indian PM Modi is not willing to receive it. 3) India-Nepal Railservice Prime Minister Deuba will also be discussing the inauguration of Janakpur-Jaynagar Railway during his stay in India. PM Deuba and his Indian counterpart Modi are scheduled to jointly inaugurate the India-Nepal Railway. 4) Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) is a bi-national hydropower project to be developed in the Mahakali River bordering Nepal and India. Development of PMP, is a mutual interest project between two countries, and is covered under the integrated Mahakali Treaty signed between Nepal and India according to which, equal sizes of underground power house i.e. of 3240MV will be constructed on each side of Mahakali river in India and Nepal. Moreover, the PMP also offers the benefit of regulated water for irrigation to a vast area of agricultural land both in Nepal and India along with the benefit of flood control downstream. However, the hydropower project with a capacity of 6,400 megawatt has failed to finalize its DPR despite extension of the deadline time and again. 5) Postal Highway Postal Highway, a national pride project, is yet to miss its deadline of fiscal year 2079/80 BS. The project was earlier estimated to be completed by fiscal year 2074/75 BS. 6) Upper Karnali Hydropower Project GMR group of India was selected for the construction of the project through a global tender in 2008. However, a little progress has been made so far and the project is in limbo these days. Of the 900 MW electricity generated from the hydropower, most of the generated power is to be exported to both Bangladesh (about 500 MW) and India (another 292 MW), via a 400 kV double circuit transmission line, with the only remaining 108 MW of total power dedicated to local consumption. 7) Political and Diplomatic agendas Besides, PM Deuba’s visit will be focused on strengthening political and diplomatic ties between India and Nepal. After Nepal published a new political map including the disputed territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiadhura, the bilateral ties between the two countries have been affected to some extent. So far, both the countries have failed to hold high-level discussions and dialogue to address the issue.

Ratopati English फाल्गुन २०७८

Nepal to give GMR 2 yrs to generate funds for Upper Karnali Hydropower Project

The company has been dillydallying the assignment for the past few years, yet the government seems helpless to do anything except extending the time. The post Nepal to give GMR 2 yrs to generate funds for Upper Karnali Hydropower Project appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.

Onlinekhabar English माघ २०७८

Upper Karnali's progress almost nil in seven years after GMR's dillydally

KARNALI, September 10: The Government of Nepal and Indian Energy Company GMR on September 19, 2014 had signed the Project Development Agreement ( PDA) in regard with the 900-MW Upper Karnali Hydro Electricity Project. The agreement states that the project will be completed within seven years of the signing of the PDA. Coming September 19 marks the completion of the seven years of the PDA, but the progress of the project is almost nil. The project promoter spends most of its time in survey and other research works. It is yet to make required preparations for the project construction. The agreement has granted two years for the financial closing and remaining five years for the construction works of the project. GMR was selected as the project promoter through a global tender in 2008 by the government. The company's failure to give a pace to the project has pushed it towards uncertainty. The project implementing body Investment Board has not extended the deadline of GMR that had ended in 2018. The company has not been able to make the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower Project has approached the Investment Board requesting for the extension of deadline with the PPA schedule, but the Board is yet to decide over the proposal. The promoter company has said that activities to acquire private land and cutting down trees at project affected areas are underway. The company has purchased 10 hectares of land out of 48.59 hectares so far. Mobilization of financial resources has been affected due to delay in PPA of the project. The company has already signed MoU with Indian Power Trade Corporation to sell the produced power to Bangladesh. According to GMR, Bangladeshi government itself would buy 500 MW out of the 900 MW electricity produced from Upper Karnali. As per the agreement, the government of Nepal would get 27 per cent share or 12 per cent (9108 MW) electricity free of cost from the project. The project should be handed over to the Government of Nepal after 25 years free of cost. A total of Rs 116 billion cost has been estimated for the construction of the project. The dam of the project would be in Dailekh while power house will be in Achham. A draft of the project has been made in a boot model (build, own, operation, transfer). An arrangement has been made in PDA to provide 50 per cent discount on customs while purchasing cement, rod and steel materials imported for the construction of the project. There is a provision in the PDA that the government has to pay all compensation if situation goes out of control, if there is a change in law and if the government fails to complete the work within stipulated time without fulfilling its responsibilities. Some experts of water resources sector have been objecting the PDA, saying the government has to pay compensation even to end agreement with GMR due to this provision. The project will be built as per the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model. Although the government has given many facilities as tax exemption and subsidies, the GMR has not been able to do the PPA for the project. The PDA has the provision that 50 per cent concession would be provided in customs duty while importing cement, rod, steel and other materials required for the construction of the project. It is also stated in the PDA that the government will have to bear the entire compensation in case the project is not entitled to get tax exemption if the project is not completed within the deadline due to situation beyond control, there is a change in the laws or the government fails to fulfill its responsibility. Many water resources experts have been objecting to the PDA, citing the government is instead made to pay the compensation even for terminating the agreement with GMR due to this provision. Intention to 'hold' project The Upper Karnali Project Concern Committee has accused GMR of lack of interest in expediting the project with the intention of 'holding' the project. Locals have alleged of unnecessary delay in works like cutting trees, land acquisition and distribution of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced people. "There is no any progress in the project works since the last 13 years. There is only this publicity that the project will be constructed. When will the company be able to complete the project when it has not even been able to acquire the land for the project," said one Jeevan Thapa, a resident of Dab, a project-affected area in Dailekh district. Bam Bahadur BC, the Coordinator of the Committee and a local from Bhairabsthan in Achham district, said there is doubt regarding the company moving ahead the project when it has not been able to do so even when it has been enjoying various facilities. "Many studies have proved that this project is cheaper in terms of cost and technologically appropriate. Still the GMR seems to be reluctant and it is stuck," BC said, adding that either the government should extend the construction company's term or terminate the agreement with it. There is a lot of confusion at the local level as the project is stalled for many years. GMR has yet to acquire 622 ropanis of land for the project.

Ratopati English श्रावण २०७८