The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation has issued a power generation license to the 439-megawatt Betan Karnali Hydropower Project, clearing the way for the project to move into construction after years of delays.
Energy Secretary Suresh Acharya handed over the license to Krishna Prasad Acharya, Chief Executive Officer of Betan Karnali Sanchayakarta Hydropower Company Limited, during a recent ceremony. The ministry urged the company to complete the project within the scheduled timeframe.
The project, located on the Karnali River near Chaur Amari in Surkhet district, had faced prolonged delays due to a boundary dispute with the Indian-backed GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower Project. GMR had objected to the Betan Karnali project, citing concerns that its dam site would affect the tailrace of Upper Karnali. The dispute was recently resolved through a technical agreement that mandates a two-metre vertical gap between the two hydropower projects.
Read: Betan Karnali-GMR Dispute Resolved
Officials credited the resolution to diplomatic coordination and the initiative of Energy Minister Deepak Khadka. The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) played a key role in brokering the agreement.
CEO Acharya thanked the minister, the secretary, and the Investment Board for their role in settling the dispute and facilitating the licensing process. He assured that the project would be completed on time.
The Betan Karnali project is being developed with an estimated investment of Rs 93 billion. The Employees Provident Fund is contributing 15 percent of the investment, while Nepal Electricity Authority and the Betan Karnali Hydropower Generation Company Limited are each investing 10 percent. An additional 40 percent will come from EPF contributors and civil servants, and the remaining 25 percent will be raised from local communities and the general public.
Despite the delays, the project has already spent over Rs 150 million on preparatory work including engineering studies, environmental impact assessment, expansion of the access road, test hall construction, and staff compensation.
