DoED issues survey licences for 99 hydropower projects totalling 3,211 megawatts

KATHMANDU: Department of Electricity Development has issued survey licences for 99 hydroelectric projects in the fiscal year 2082/83, covering July 17, 2025 to July 16, 2026.

The projects have a combined capacity of 3,211 megawatts. The department also granted survey licences to seven solar energy projects with a total capacity of 311 megawatts.

Survey permits were issued for transmission line projects totalling 179 circuit kilometres of 220 kV lines, 270 circuit kilometres of 132 kV lines and 132 circuit kilometres of 33 kV lines.

During the year, production licences were issued to 29 hydropower projects, with a combined capacity of 1,857 megawatts. In the solar sector, three projects received production licences, totalling 31 megawatts.

The department collects around 3.5 billion rupees in royalties each year. The funds are shared with provincial and local governments, which the department says has made a significant contribution to economic progress and development at those levels.

To date, the department has issued 264 production licences for hydropower projects, with a total capacity of 12,336 megawatts. Ten solar projects, with a combined capacity of 74.0 megawatts, have also been granted production licences, said Mon Devi Shrestha, the department’s director-general.

By RSS