NUWAKOT, Nov 4: Syaurebhumi Micro Hydropower Project, established to replace tuki batti (oil lamp) in Shivapuri Rural Municipality–4 Sikre of Nuwakot district, has been generating revenue of Rs 70,000 per month.
The hydropower project established in 1999 generates 23 KW of electricity during all seasons. It was purchased by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in 2015.
"Until 1999, the village was dependent on oil lamp while the water resource of the village was being useless," project chief Sudarshan Budhathoki said. “Utilizing the water resources, we initiated to build this hydropower in cooperation with locals.”
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In 2013, the NEA started providing electricity to the village and the project had to face losses. "Since it was formed with an intention to benefit the locals, the NEA decided to connect it to the national grid," Budhathoki said.
Since then, the project has been generating 27 KW electricity although the capacity of the project is only 23 KW, Budhathoki further added.
In line with its policy to purchase small hydropower projects generating more than 20 KW, the NEA acquired Syaurebhumi Micro Hydropower Project in 2015.
Based on the agreement between the NEA and Syaurebhumi, the former has been paying Rs 8.40 per unit for the electricity generated during winter and Rs 4.80 during monsoon.
After the project got affected by 2015 earthquake, it received Rs 3.5 million in grant for reconstruction. The grant was provided by the United Nation Development Programme in cooperation with Alternative Energy Promotion Center of Nepal government.
