The government has approved generation licences for three additional hydropower projects, further expanding Nepal’s energy portfolio. The Department of Electricity Development, under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, has granted official production permits to the Chumchet Syar Khola, Middle Likhu, and Chhomrong Khola hydropower projects.
The 45 MW Chumchet Syar Khola project, to be developed by Chilime Hydropower Company in the Chumchet area of Gorkha on the Budhigandaki River, is designed as a run-of-the-river plant. It is expected to generate around 348 GWh of electricity annually. Power from the project will be transmitted to the New Budhigandaki substation through a 110-km, 220-kV transmission line.