KATHMANDU, Aug 20: Api Power Pvt Ltd has signed power purchase agreement (PPA) with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for selling 2 MW of solar energy generated by it to the state-owned power utility. 

Api Power will set up plant with 1 MW capacity at Dhalkebar of Dhanusha while other plant of similar capacity will be set up at Simara of Bara, according to a statement issued by the company. NEA will pay the company Rs 7.5 per unit for 25 years. 

Deputy Managing Director of NEA Jagadishwor Man Singh and company’s managing director Sanjiv Neupane signed the PPA amid a program on Sunday. The solar power will be connected to a substation of NEA at Parawanipur of Bara via an 11 KV transmission line. Both the plants will start power generation within seven months. The company has already signed PPAs for another 8 MW solar plant to be set up at Parwanipur of Parsa and 4 MW plant to be set up at Chandranigahpur of Rautahat.

The government three years ago set PPA rate for solar energy at Rs 8.45 to Rs 9.61 per unit. However, a separate guideline for Grid Connected Solar Electricity Development has set the PPA rates for such energy at Rs 7.30 per unit. 

It has received permission to set up solar plants at 10 locations of the country. It is also building a hydropower project of 8.5 MW capacity on Naugadh Gad River of Darchula.

 
• nepal electricity authority (nea)
 
• 2 mw of solar energy