Speaking on completion of 10 years of operation of the Khimti I Hydropower Project, Sood who is an executive vice president of SN Power for South Asia, said the model of community development will be replicated in other countries as well. [break]
Khimti I is the first private sector project operated under Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model after Nepal opened the hydropower sector for private investments. Sood said, "We have strong belief on BOOT scheme and it can be instrumental for attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nepal."
Khimti I plant started commercial operation in July 2000 and has generated over 4 billion units of electricity so far.
At a press meet organized by the company, Tom Solberg, the general manager of HPL, informed that the company has provided electricity facility to over 4,600 rural households and 38,000 more households get the facility soon. He said another 400 KW power plant is also being planned in Dolakha district.
A few months ago, infrastructure developed during the implementation of these rural electrification projects were handed over to the Khimti Rural Electric Cooperative (KREC), a member-owned and democratically managed cooperative.
Padma Jyoti, chairperson of Butwal Power Company (BPC) and businessman, said BPC is also learning from KREC model of HPL.
At the press briefing, it was informed that the company has implemented numerous drinking water systems, toilets, bio-gas plants, agricultural and forestry projects, income generation training, women´s empowerment and irrigation systems as part of its corporate social responsibility.
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