West Seti Hydel Project: Investment Board submits detailed work plan to govt

KATHMANDU, MAY 23 -

The Investment Board has submitted a detailed work plan for West Seti Hydropower Project (WSHP) to the government. The board, entrusted to develop 750 MW West Seti project, submitted the work plan to Chief Secretary Madhav Prashad Ghimire on Monday.

As per the plan, the board will begin the negotiation with the China Three Gorges International (CTGI) within a couple of days. “We have submitted our work plan to the Chief Secretary and all our future efforts to develop the project will be guided by that plan,” said Radhesh Pant, CEO of the board. Pant added that the board would approach the CTGI for the talks soon.

After a dillydally lasting almost three months, the works on West Seti moved ahead after the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) handed the project to the board and formed a committee led by Pant to start the negotiation process with the Chinese company.

Pant said that the committee would correct the shortcomings in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the Energy Ministry had signed with Chinese company to ensure maximum benefit to the country.

According to Pant, the board will be in position to negotiate with the CTGI for power development agreement (PDA) by October 1. “We have already begun drafting a PDA model for the West Seti. It will be ready within a month,” he said.

The Chinese company will be asked to resume the stalled work, including technical assessment, financial evaluation and site visit of the project once the amendment in the MoU is completed.

The committee will conduct a separate financial and technical evaluation of the project on top of the CTGI’s evaluation. “During the development of this project, we will utilise our manpower, expertise and entire resources to ensure a success of the project,” said a committee member, adding that the Chinese company have expressed its eagerness to develop the WSHP despite some confusions over the project.

Source: The Kathmandu Post