The work on the West Seti plant was expected to commence by the end of 2007. The hydro project was then being developed by Snowy Mountains Engineering’s (SEMC) unit, reported Hydroworld.com.
In 1994, SMEC had secured a concession to develop the project; however, in 2012, the company surrendered the license.
For a while this project lay stagnant. China Three Gorges then gained rights to develop the project.
Earlier this year, even the Chinese firm threatened to pull its support from the project.
The project is being developed with an investment of $1.6bn. This amount is primarily financed by China Three Gorges and the Export-Import Bank of China.
This is China’s largest investment into Nepal.
Nepal is believed to have hydroelectric potential of approximately 40,000MW.
Construction work on the West Seti plant is likely to commence in 2015 and the first generating units are likely to become operational in 2019.
Majority of the output from this project will be sold to Nepal.
Image: Nepal is believed to have hydroelectric potential of approximately 40,000MW. Photo: Courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee/Freedigitalphotos.net.
