The preliminary works for the development of 30MW Seti River Hydropower Project in Sardi Khola of Machhapuchre Rural Municipality have started.

Vision Nepal, a group of youth entrepreneurs, started the survey of the proposed hydropower project, which is estimated to cost Rs5.5 billion.

 The project was identified in 2003. The Energy Ministry had been keeping the project in its basket as it failed to move ahead.

The survey licence, however, was granted to Vision Nepal seven months ago.

The group said they are nearing completion of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Environmental Impact Assessment. “The DPR and EIA of the hydropower project are in the final stage. We have targeted to complete the study by December-end,” said Vision Nepal Chairman Jagat Pokharel.

Pokharel said they would accord priority to the welfare of the local people while constructing the project. “Although the preliminary study would take two years, we have fast tracked the process to complete to initiate the project construction soon.”

According to the company, it is has been drafting EIA as per the terms of reference and guideline issued by the Ministry of Environment. A team of 16 experts has been deployed for drafting EIA report, the company said. “We are looking to carry out power purchase agreement with the Nepal Electricity Authority within one and a half months,” Pokharel said.

 According to the Energy Ministry, the project will have the capacity to generate 25 to 30 MW of electricity.

The run-of-the river type hydroelectricity project will be constructed in wards 1 and 2 of Machhapuchre Rural Municipality.

Saroj Adhikari, joint-secretary at the ministry, said a 30-metre long dam will be constructed across Seti River and a 7-km-long pipeline structure will be built to construct the power house. “Based on the weak geological structure in the area, the pipeline system, instead of the permanent tunnel, will be built to divert the water in the river to the powerhouse,” Adhikari said.

The proposed project site is far from the agricultural field and human settlement area. The electricity produced will be connected to the national grid through a 132 kV transmission line located at 6km from the project site.

According to Adhikari, the project construction site is connected with road access. Seti River Hydropower Project that is located at the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Vision Nepal said that a number of banks and financial institutions have expressed interest to invest in the project.