1300 MW electricity to be added to the national grid; Upper Tamakoshi, Rasuwagadhi, Sanjen and Madhyabhotekoshi hydropower projects to be completed in the upcoming fiscal year

The government is to add 1,300-MW electricity to the national power grid of the country within the next fiscal year. A goal has been set to complete ongoing hydropower projects and expedite the under-construction projects.

The government is planning to accomplish the ongoing construction of Upper Tamakoshi, Rasuwagadhi, Sanjen and Madhyabhotekoshi hydropower projects in the upcoming fiscal.

The construction of 456-MW Upper Tamakoshi project has so far witnessed 99.5 percent progress in terms of physical development. The 111-MW capacity Rasuwagadhi hydropower project is also making speedy progress.

In the budget speech delivered by Finance Minister Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada on Thursday, the energy sector has been put on special priority as in the previous years.

The upper Sanjen (14.8-MW), lower Sanjen (42.5-MW), Madhyabhotekoshi (102-MW) are also progressing in a way to get completed in the upcoming fiscal year.

The lockdown enforced by the government to stem the COVID-19 has deferred the progress in the construction of the projects.

According to the budget speech the government has laid emphasis on the construction of hydropower projects with reservoir and semi-reservoir for energy mixture and security. Meanwhile, the government has allocated budget Rs 4.13 billion for the promotion of alternative energy.