NEA decides to purchase 135.6 MW electricity from private developers
KATHMANDU:
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has agreed to purchase electricity from developers of 86-megawatt Solu Khola (Dudhkoshi) and 49.6MW Super Dordi hydropower projects.
The state-owned power utility company agreed to purchase electricity from both the project developers at Rs 8.40 per unit during dry season and Rs 4.80 per unit during wet season on ‘take or pay’ basis. Under the ‘take or pay’ arrangement, NEA would be compelled to purchase power from the developers at any condition.
Also, NEA has agreed to raise the existing tariff extended to two power developers by three per cent for eight times throughout the 30-year concession period.
“The revisions, however, would be made at base rate, not compound rate,” Nepal Electricity Authority Managing Director Mukesh Raj Kafle said. On top of that NEA has also agreed to purchase additional power generated by projects — exceeding installed capacity — at 50 per cent of the tariff rate.
Solukhumbu-based Solu Khola project is expected to generate 520.82 million units of electricity per year, of which 419.49 million units would be generated during the wet season. On the other hand, Lamjung-based Super Dordi is expected to generate 289.46 million units of power per year, of which 244.10 million units would be generated during wet season.
The developer of Solu Khola project has expressed commitment to start commercial operation from March 23, 2020, while Super Dordi has pledged to start commercial operation from October 7, 2019.
Solu Khola project has to build 12km 132kV double-circuit transmission line from its switching yard to proposed substation at Tingla in Solukhumbu to evacuate power. Likewise, Super Dordi
project will have to construct 5.2km 132kV double-circuit transmission line from its switching yard to substation at Kritipur in Lamjung to evacuate power.
Both the developers have to hand over the project in a good condition to the government after 30 years of commercial electricity generation.
Source: THT
