JICA Working With NEA to Conduct Preliminary Study on Hydropower Projects

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and its subsidiary Tanahu Hydropower in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been working on a preliminary feasibility study to build two pumped storage projects, reports The Kathmandu Post.

The two pumped storage projects involves moving water from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir where it is stored to generate power. The two projects are: a 150 MW pumped storage project at Rupa and Begnas lakes in Pokhara and a 104 MW pumped storage project at the Lower Seti Hydropower Project.

NEA said that JICA had already sent consultants in the field to complete the study.

Pradeep Kumar Thike, managing director of Tanahu Hydropower said, “We will probably get a report from JICA by the first week of February.” He added, “After we get the report, the installed capacity of the project will be finalized, and we will move forward with the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR).”

The current installed capacities for these projects were determined by a desk study and will likely change after the field study report. NEA is also planning to ask JICA to help prepare the DPR of the pumped storage projects as Japanese companies are experienced in these fields.