JHAPA, Dec 27: Solar energy production has started in Jhapa. Jhapa Energy Limited with a capacity of 10 megawatts has commenced power production from Tuesday.
Narayan Prasad Pokharel, the program officer of the Jhapa Energy Limited, said that the energy produced from the project in Shivasatakshi-4 has been linked to the Bulochowk substation of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for testing. Pokharel said that it was connected to the substation at 6PM yesterday.
In the presence of Birtamod Mayor Pabitra Mahatara Prasai, Managing Director of the company Subas Bhattarai, Sitaram Sigdel on behalf of Power Trade Department, Engineer Sajan Maharjan and Engineer Asuhang Rai of Koshi Province Office of the NEA, Engineer Hari Tiwari, of NEA, Damak, project contactor Kuber Mani Nepal, Engineer Abhishek Parajuli, the solar power generation facility was inaugurated at the substation.
Pokharel mentioned that the production will undergo a trial period of 15 days, following which continuous production will commence. He stated, "During the trial period, the energy produced is mandated to be provided to the state free of charge, and the state will purchase the production after that."
Tapping into the sun
The construction of the project started four years ago with an investment of Rs 810 million. Subas Bhattarai, managing director of Jhapa Energy Limited, stated that the construction of the project spread over 21 bighas of land has been completed.
Bhattarai said that Machhapuchhre and Civil Bank have a 75 percent financial partnership and 25 percent of the cost is raised from the public share in the project. According to him, the company will start regular income after 15 days.
The NEA's Shivgunj Grid, located one kilometer away from the project site in a rural area around 10 kilometers south of Dudhe Bazar, is set to connect the solar power produced by Jhapa Energy Limited to the national transmission line. To facilitate this, the company constructed a 960-meter transmission line.
An agreement has already been signed between the NEA and the company for the purchase of the energy produced by Jhapa Energy Limited. According to the agreement, the NEA will purchase the electricity produced by the project at the rate of Rs 7.30 per unit.
An electricity purchase agreement was signed with the NEA on November 28, 2021. The project will produce 17.6 million units of electricity annually. Based on this, it is estimated that the project will generate an annual income of Rs 128.5 million.
The Jhapa Energy Limited was envisioned by the leaders after studying the operation of large solar energy projects outside Nepal. Solar energy was envisioned in the district under the leadership of Lal Prasad (LP) Sanwa Limbu, a member of the House of Representatives. He said that projects based on people's participation will contribute greatly to the economic prosperity of the country.
So far, there are 21 solar energy projects in operation in Nepal. Among them, the maximum capacity is ten megawatts. The foundation stone of the project was laid by the late Subas Chandra Nembang, the chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
