CPN-Maoist calls for review of all hydropower schemes

KATHMANDU: Mohan Baidhya-led CPN-Maoist today expressed serious reservations over the six major political parties’ pledge to support the ongoing hydropower projects in the country. The reaction comes 10 days after the parties made a commitment to develop hydropower.
Issuing a press release, CPN-Maoist’s department of water resources and energy indirectly expressed differing views in ‘not to obstruct any hydro projects construction’ saying that all projects are not equal, against the nation and welfare of the people. While taking a backseat, the party said it is not that they do not support the hydro project development as other six parties did, rather they are choosy in supporting hydro projects as all projects are not in favour of Nepalis.
Leaders of six major political parties — the Unified CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal, Rastriya Janashakti Party and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic — and the Chairman of the interim ele-ction government Khil Raj Regmi signed a commitment paper, pledging not to disturb hydropower developm-ent in country on April 11.
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) had sought all parties’ commitment to help build the ailing hydro sector as the developers are wary of frequent obstruction in the project. “The FNCCI has been lobbying for a common minimum economic agenda, including hydropower, for the development of the country,” said FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya, during the inaugural session, adding, “It is high time all political parties came to a certain understanding on ways to end the everlasting transition and steer the nation towards the path of accelerated growth.”
Except the CPN-Maoist party, all four major and some fringe parties had expressed their solidarity not to create hurdle in the hydro sector during the 47th annual General Meeting of FNCCI.
The party has reiterated its resistance on various projects underway saying that they were on unequal agreements, treaties with the foreigners saying that they should be scrapped or reviewed.
Source : The Himalayan Times

Budhigandaki project to be completed by 2022

It’s one of the 17 national ventures of government

KATHMANDU: Secretary of the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Krishna Hari Baskota today said that the Budhigandaki Hydro Project of 600 MW will be completed by 2079 BS following a recent field visit of the projects.
He said the survey including feasibility study, detailed project study, tender bid of run-of-river project will be finalised by the fiscal year of 2072/73 and the project will be complete by next six years. The project is one of the 17 national pride projects of the government.
A French company has started the feasibility study, detailed project study February 1, and with the deadline of thirty months. During the visit Secretary Baskota had observed the drilling and had met with the officials of the Tractebel Engineering SA, France.
A press release issued by Baskota’s office said that he had assured the contractor any support by the government. The government had awarded the company for feasibility study, DPR and bidding document preparation with the sum of Rs 92,683,9000.
Source

Govt’s failure to hike PPA rate irks developers

Developers of a number of hydropower projects, which began during the Maoist insurgency, are upset with the government’s failure to abide by its decision to increase the power purchase agreement (PPA) rate.
The Ministry of Energy (MoE) had promised to increase the rate earlier, but the Economic Infrastructure Committee in the Cabinet turned down its proposal a few days ago.
Projects including the Sunkoshi Khola (2.6 MW), Baramchi Khola (4.2 MW), Thoppal Khola (1.6 MW), Ridhi Khola (2.4 MW) and Hewa Khola (4.5 MW) were assured of a PPA hike.
The MoE had forwarded a proposal to increase the rate to Rs 4. 80 per unit in the summer and Rs 8.40 per unit in the winter in line with the PPA hike for new projects in June 2012. They are now getting a PPA rate of Rs 3.90 per unit during the wet season and Rs 5.52 during the dry.
“We failed to provide the promised facility for these projects after the Economic Infrastructure Committee of the Cabinet refused to accept it, while the same was also forwarded to the previous government,” said Energy Secretary Hari Ram Koirala.
“The Cabinet committee has, however, said it will not decide on any proposal tabled by the previous government until the proposal is once again forwarded by the ministry concerned,” Koirala said.
He said that the ministry will soon hold talks with the power developers and then, as per their recommendations, forward the proposal to the committee at the earliest.
The Baburam Bhattarai government had decided to increase the PPA rate of the projects and make it on a par with new projects. The new rates will be valid for seven years of the beginning of the projects’ commercial operations.
In June last year, the MoE had hiked the PPA rate for new projects below 25-MW capacity by 20 percent.
The power developers were demanding a hike in the PPA rate for projects under construction and well as the completed ones.
Though the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been signing the PPA in the revised rate with the under-construction projects, the government power utility has been denying the increased rate to the completed projects.
Following a tussle with the NEA, the Nepal Micro Hydropower Development Association (NMHDA) had demanded an increment in the rate until the loan repayment period, exemption of the delay charge, value added tax waiver and refinancing facility. A total of 14 projects, with a joint capacity of 27 MW, have completed construction and are awaiting PPA increment.
Source : The Kathmandu Post

Experts insist on micro-hydro to solve power crisis

Experts insist that focusing on micro-hydro is the only cost effective and easy solution for ever growing energy crisis in the country. Nepal has the potential to establish more than 2200 micro hydro projects and realizing this would change the face of the nation.
Speaking at a workshop in the capital on Friday, Minister for Science and Technology and vice chancellor of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Umakanta Jha said that a developing country like Nepal should develop micro hydropower projects at the community level.
“It is unfortunate that a country which has immense possibility of hydropower is facing long hours of load shedding. It is high time to focus on hydropower projects and move ahead,” he said.
A total of 50 hydropower experts, senior scientists and technicians of the country and 26 foreign delegates from 16 countries including India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Sri-Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia are participating in the 3-day workshop that kicked off today. The international workshop on ´the role of micro-hydro for developing countries´ has been jointly organized by NAST, Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) and Science and Technology Centre of India.
At the program, executive director of AEPC professor Govinda Raj Pokhrel stressed for a concrete policy and plan to exploit the hydro-power potential.
“We are so rich in water resources, yet we are facing acute power crisis. The problem cannot be addressed until and unless we have suitable policy for micro-hydro projects which alone is reliable solution to the serious problem we have,” he said. Secretary of NAST, Prof Prakash Chandra Adhikari added that concrete policy on micro-hydro would speed up the country´s development.
Micro-hydro has increasingly been popular in the country over the years. According to Pokhrel, Nepal has made remarkable strides in micro-hydro in the past two decades but a lot needs to be done.
Source : Republica

Upper Mailung ‘A’ signs consortium financing pact

The 6.42 MW installed capacity power project will cost Rs 956.30 million

 Promoted by former president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Kush Kumar Joshi, Upper Mailung ‘A’ hydropower project has signed a consortium financing led by Nepal Bank.
The 6.42 MW installed capacity power project will cost a total of Rs 956.30 million, including interest during construction, according to chairman of Energy Engineering Joshi. “The project will cost Rs 148.95 million
per MW including interest during construction.”
Of the total project cost, the consortium banks will lend 70 per cent whereas the firm will have 30 per cent equity, he said, adding Nepal Bank is the lead bank with Nepal Investment Bank and Civil Bank as consortium banks.
Developed by Energy Engineering, the 6.42 MW power plant located at Gatlang VDC of Rasuwa district and Tipling VDC of Dhading district has a net annual generation capacity of 35.775 GWh.
The hydropower project is expected to be completed by July 2014, added Joshi, who is also leading the Kathmandu-Hetauda fast track tunnel project through his firm, Nepal Infrastructure Development Company.
Currently, big business houses are also interested in investing in hydropower due to rising cost of operation of industries that has paralysed the domestic economy.
Source : The Himalayan Times

कुलेखानी दोस्रोको मर्मत सुरु, लोडसेडिङ नबढाउन डिजेल प्लान्ट

मकवानपुर, बैशाख ५ – आगलागीबाट जलेर क्षति पुगेको मकवानपुरको भैंसे गाविस-१ स्थित कुलेखानी दोस्रो जलविद्युत् आयोजनाको ३ वटा ट्रान्सफर्मर मर्मतसम्भार सुरु गरिएको छ।
ट्रान्सफर्मर जलेपछि ३२ मेगावाट विद्युत् उत्पादन हुने दोस्रो आयोजना बन्द हुँदा लोडसेडिङमा प्रभाव पर्ने भएपछि मर्मतसम्भार बुधबारबाटै सुरु गरिएको हो। ट्रान्सफर्मरमा हाइभोल्टेजका कारण ‘ब्रसिङ ब्रस्ट’ भई आगो लाग्दा झण्डै ५ करोडको क्षति भएको थियो।
तत्काल मुलुकको विद्युत आपूर्तिमा प्रभाव पर्ने देखिएपछि आयोजनालाई छिट्टै मर्मतसम्भार गराउन दबाब परेको हो। आगोले पुर्‍याएको नोक्सान आँकलन गरी विद्युतगृहमै एउटा ट्रान्सफर्मर मर्मत हुने भएको छ। बढी क्षति भएको अर्को उपकरण भने मर्मतसम्भारका लागि हेटौंडाको विद्युत प्राधिकरणकै केन्द्रीय वर्कसपमा ल्याइएको छ।
‘मर्मतसम्भार सुरु भइसकेको छ। एउटा आयोजनास्थलमै प्राविधिकले मर्मत गर्दैछन्। अर्को केन्द्रीय वर्कसपमा मर्मत हुँदैछ’ आयोजना प्रमुख कृष्णप्रसाद यादवले भने, ‘प्राधिकरणका सबै अनुभवी प्राविधिक यसैमा लागेका छन्। करिब ५० जनाले बुधबारबाटै काम सुरु गरिसकेका छन्।’ उनले द्रुतगतिमा मर्मतसम्भार गरिने बताए।
डिजल प्लान्ट १६ घण्टा सञ्चालन
कुलेखानी दोस्रो परियोजना बन्द भएपछि सम्भावित लोडसेडिङ कम गर्न हेटौंडाको डिजेल प्लान्ट १६ घण्टासम्म सञ्चालन गरिएको छ।
बढीमा दैनिक ५-१० घण्टामात्र चलाउने गरिएको प्लान्ट बिहीबार १६ घण्टा चलेको डिजल केन्द्र हेटौंडाका प्रमुख राजेशकुमार पाण्डेले जानकारी गराए। उनले मर्मतसम्भारको अवधिसम्म डिजल प्लान्ट सञ्चालन अवधि नघट्ने बताए। गत मंसिरदेखि ७ वटा प्लान्ट रहेको डिजेल केन्द्र सञ्चालन भइरहेको थियो।
हेटौंडा वितरण केन्द्र प्रमुख पाण्डेका अनुसार ७ वटै प्लान्ट सञ्चालन गर्दा प्रतिघण्टा ३ हजारदेखि ३ हजार पा”चसय लिटरसम्म डिजल खपत हुन्छ। ७ देखि ९ रुपिया” प्रतियुनिट पर्ने विद्युत डिजल प्लान्टबाट उत्पादन गर्दा प्रतियुनिट ३० देखि ३५ रुपैया पर्न जान्छ।
प्रस्तुति: नागरिक / रामशरण पुडासैनि

सोलार राख्न सहरमा पनि अनुदान

तत्काल लोडसेडिङ कम हुने संकेत नदेखिएका बेला सहरी क्ष्ाेत्रमा पनि सौर्य ऊर्जा -सोलार) जडान गर्दा अनुदान दिने तयारी सरकारले थालेको छ । आर्थिक वर्ष २०६९/७० को पूर्ण बजेटमा सहरी क्षेत्रलाई पनि अनुदान दिने घोषणा भएपछि सरकारले निर्देशिका बनाइरहेको छ । अनुदानसम्बन्धी कार्यविधि बनी नसकेकाले बजेट भने छुट्याइएको छैन । करिब १४ वर्षदेखि ग्रामीण क्षेत्रमा मात्रै दिँदै आएको सौर्य ऊर्जा जडानको अनुदान प्रक्रिया सोही प्रकृतिको हुने छ । अनुदान दिन वैकल्पिक ऊर्जा प्रवर्द्धन केन्द्रले पाँच महिनाअघि अर्थ मन्त्रालयमा पेस गरेको कार्यविधिलाई आधार बनाइएको एक अधिकारीले बताए । ‘एक तिहाइ बजेट ल्याउनुपरेकाले उक्त शीर्षकमा पहिले पनि बजेट छुट्याउन सकेनौं,’ बजेट महाशाखाका ती अधिकारीले भने, ‘अहिले पनि बाँकी तीन महिनाको लागि मात्र बजेट ल्याएकाले विनियोजन गर्न सकिएन ।’ कार्यविधि पनि बनी नसकेकाले सरकारले बजेट नछुट्याएको हो । ‘चालू आर्थिक वर्षभित्रको बाँकी महिनाभन्दा अघि नै कार्यविधि पास भए ग्रामीण भेगका लागि छुट्याइएको बजेट सहरका लागि पनि प्रयोग हुन सक्छ,’ उनले भने । सहरी क्षेत्रमा पनि अनुदान दिने विषयमा प्रवर्द्धन केन्द्रले लामो समयदेखि सरकारसँग पहल गरिरहेको थियो । उक्त कार्यविधि अर्थ मन्त्रालयमा पठाइएको केन्द्रका कार्यकारी निर्देशक गोविन्द पोखरेलले बताए । ‘अनुदान दिने विषयमा वर्तमान सरकार सकारात्मक देखिएको छ,’ उनले भने, ‘मन्त्रालयले नीतिगत व्यवस्था गरे नगरेको जानकारी आइसकेको छैन ।’ सरकारले अनुदान दिए केन्द्रले कार्यविधिका रूपमा अघि बढाएको अवधारणाअनुसार लागू हुने पोखरेलले बताए । सौर्य ऊर्जा जडान गर्नेलाई ७ हजार रुपैयाँदेखि माथि अनुदान दिने अवधारणा केन्द्रले बनाएको छ । ‘धनी र गरिबअनुसार अनुदान फरक फरक हुने छ,’ उनले भने, ‘धनीले तुलनात्मक रूपमा कम प्रतिशत अनुदान पाउने छन् ।’ धनी र गरिबको पहिचान उसले जडान गर्न चाहने सौर्य ऊर्जा उत्पादन क्षमतामा भर पर्ने छ । ‘कम वाट विद्युत् उत्पादन हुने प्रणाली जडान गर्न चाहे बढी अनुदान पाउँछन् । बढी क्षमताको विद्युत् उत्पादन गर्न चाहनेलाई कम अनुदान हुने छ,’ उनले भने, ‘खपत गरेर बाँकी रहेको सौर्य ऊर्जाबाट उत्पादित विद्युत् जडान गर्नेले विद्युत् प्राधिकरणलाई बेच्न पनि पाउने छ ।’ सर्वसाधारणका घरमा दिउँसो विद्युत्को आवश्यकता न्यून हुने भएकाले उनीहरूको सौर्य प्रणालीबाट उत्पादित विद्युत् प्राधिकरणले किन्ने व्यवस्था यो कार्यक्रममा लागू हुने छ । सर्वसाधारणका घरबाट उत्पादित विद्युत् प्रसारण लाइनको तारबाट प्रधिकरणलाई बेच्न मिल्ने प्रकृतिको व्यवस्था गर्न सरकारलाई सिफारिस गरिएको प्रवर्द्धन केन्द्रले जनाएको छ । ‘प्राधिकरणले पनि दिउँसो सौर्य ऊर्जाबाट विद्युत् खरिद गर्न पाएपछि जलाशययुक्त र अन्य आयोजनाबाट बिजुली निकाल्नु पर्दैन । राति मात्र गरे पुग्छ,’ उनले भने, ‘यो अवधारणा लागू हुन सके चर्को लोडसेडिङको समस्या अन्त्य हुने छ ।’ सरकारले मुलुकका प्रमुख सहर, उपमहानगरपालिका, नगरपालिका र केही जिल्ला सदरमुकामभन्दा बाहेकलाई मात्र सौर्य ऊर्जामा अनुदान दिँदै आएको छ । विद्युत् प्रसारण लाइन नपुगेको र तत्काल नपुग्ने स्थानलाई मात्र सरकारले अनुदानको अवधारणा ०५४ सालमा सुरु गरेको थियो । विद्युत् भएको स्थानमा समेत लोडसेडिङको समस्या बढ्दै गएकाले अनुदानको प्रक्रिया अघि बढाउन लागिएको हो । सहरमा अनुदान केन्द्रले लामो समयदेखि सरकारसँग लबिङ गरिरहेको थियो । ग्रामीण भेगमा अहिलेसम्म चार लाख घरमा सौर्य ऊर्जा प्रणाली जडान भइसकेको छ । अनुदानअन्तर्गतको कार्यक्रमबाट २० लाख जनाले सौर्य ऊर्जा प्रयोग गर्दै आएका छन् । यस वर्ष पनि सरकारले ग्रामीण भेगका लागि ६४ करोड रुपैयाँ अनुदान रकम छुट्याएको छ । उनीहरूले जम्मा जडान खर्चको औसतमा २० देखि ३५ प्रतिशत अनुदान पाउँछन् । उक्त अनुदान रकम निजी कम्पनीहरूले भुक्तानी लिने गरेका छन् । ग्रामीण भेगमा जडान गरेको विभिन्न प्रमाण लिएर आएपछि जडान गरेको निजी कम्पनीहरूलाई सरकारले अनुदान रकम भुक्तानी दिने गरेको हो । सरकारले प्रतिपरिवार ४ हजार ५ सयदेखि १० हजारसम्म हुने गरेको छ । सहरमा पनि उक्त अवधारणा अघि बढाउन आफूहरूले पटक पटक भन्दै आएको सौर्य विद्युत् उत्पादक संघका अध्यक्ष हीराबहादुर केसीले बताए । ‘यस विषयमा तुरुन्त बजेट छुट्याएर कार्यान्वयन हुन आवश्यक छ,’ उनले भने । कार्यकारी निर्देशक पोखरेलले सहरी क्षेत्रमा पनि ५० हजार घरका लागि ५३ करोड रुपैयाँ माग गरिएको छ । उनले भने, ‘सहरी क्षेत्रका लागि पनि रकम र अन्य केही प्रक्रिया फरक भए पनि अनुदानको अवधारणा ग्रामीण भेगकै जस्तो हो ।’ सौर्य ऊर्जामा सहर केन्दि्रत अनुदान दिए लोडसेडिङका कारण समस्या भोग्नुपरेको निजी क्षेत्रलाई पनि राहत पुगी आर्थिक फाइदाको अनुमान गरिएको छ । सौर्य ऊर्जाबाट दिउँसो विद्युत् उत्पादन गर्न मिल्ने र उद्योगधन्दा कलकारखाना पनि दिउँसो नै सञ्चालन हुने भएकाले आर्थतन्त्रमा समेत सुधार आउने अनुमान निजी क्षेत्रको हो । ‘तर अनुदान दिने प्रक्रिया सहज हुनुपर्छ,’ व्यवसायी किरण साखले भने, ‘ग्रामीण भेगमा जडान गरी भुक्तानी लिने प्रक्रियाको कुरा गर्ने हो भने लिएको नलिएझंै हुने गरेको छ ।’ अनियमित बजेट, कर्मचारीले भुक्तानी प्रक्रियामा दिने गरेको दुःखलगायत कारणले सौर्य ऊर्जाको अनुदान प्रभावकारी नभएको उनले बताए । ‘सहरमा यो अवधारणा लागू हुने तयारी खुसीको कुरा हो,’ उनले भने, ‘रकम भुक्तानी प्रक्रिया र अन्य नीतिगत कुराहरू पनि पारदर्शी हुनुपर्छ ।’ सरकारले सन् २०१७ सम्म सबैका घरमा स्वच्छ ऊर्जाको प्रविधि पुर्‍याउने घोषणा गरेको छ ।
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