Kathmandu: Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has directed the immediate operation of the Bhote Koshi Hydropower Project, which has been shut down for 28 days due to demands made under the name of “Gen-Z” for 10 percent free shares.
On Wednesday evening at around 5 pm, Minister Aryal called the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Sindhupalchok and instructed him to reopen the hydropower plant without delay.
Earlier that evening, representatives of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), including its president Ganesh Karki, met with Minister Aryal to demand security and legal action against those involved in anarchic activities. They complained that energy entrepreneurs were being harassed under the pretext of Gen-Z’s demand for free shares.
“After our meeting, Home Minister Aryal immediately phoned the Sindhupalchok CDO and instructed him to reopen the Bhote Koshi Hydropower Plant, which has been closed for 28 days,” IPPAN president Ganesh Karki told Clickmandu. “He said if the local police force is insufficient, additional forces will be sent from Kathmandu — but the hydropower plant must not remain closed.”
Minister Aryal assured the energy entrepreneurs that the government would provide full security and urged them to remain confident.
A group of six people, including Padam Bahadur Shrestha, had shut down the Bhote Koshi Hydropower Plant on Bhadra 25 (early September), demanding 10 percent free shares under the name of GenZ.
Moreover, more than 14 other hydropower projects operating in Sindhupalchok have received letters from the same group demanding 10 percent free shares, creating fear among energy entrepreneurs.
Due to the 18-day closure under the GenZ name, Bhote Koshi alone has incurred a loss of around Rs 200 million.
Although a discussion involving local representatives, project officials, and protestors was held on Ashoj 2 (mid-September) to resolve the dispute, the meeting ended in clashes and vandalism, and the preliminary agreement could not be implemented.
The Bhote Koshi Hydropower Project is Nepal’s first hydropower project promoted through direct foreign investment, with a capacity of 45 megawatts. It was initiated by the US-based Panda Energy and began commercial production in 2001. Currently, 95 percent of the ownership lies with Nepali investors and the remaining 5 percent with the American company.
The project’s executive chairman at present is Siddhartha Shumsher Rana, chairman of the Sipradi Group.
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