Kathmandu. The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) has urged the Home Minister and the Energy Minister to address the security threat in hydropower projects in recent times.
Writing a letter to both the ministers on Sunday, IPPAN Chairman Ganesh Karki said that the government has demanded security from the government as the government has been demanding 10 percent free share in the projects that have been completed, under construction and are going to be under-construction in recent period. The letter calls on the investors to create an environment confidently for the investment in energy sector bearing in mind the need and importance of the energy sector which is the major and important sector for the economic prosperity of the country.
The letter reads that the powerhouse of the 45 MW Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project of Sindhupalchowk has been closed for the past 17 days putting forth demands including 10 percent free share in the name of Jenji Group of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality. “Serious attention of IPPAN has been drawn towards the incident of not allowing the power house to go for daily maintenance and monitoring even after shutting down,” reads the letter.
Similarly, letters have been sent to the locals of Jugal Rural Municipality of Sindhupalchowk asking for free share from 10 hydropower projects.
It has been mentioned that the obstruction in the project will increase the cost and time of the project and will also completely discourage the investment of the private sector. In the letter, there has been an increase in attacks, vandalism and arson by various groups on power projects in recent years. It has also demanded formulation of a separate energy security policy to guarantee the safety of investment in energy to domestic and foreign investors in the long-term as the investment of the private sector has become unsafe due to this.
