Work begins on Nepal’s solar plant

In a fresh effort to utilise solar power, Nepal has decided to construct a solar plant at Devighat in Nuwakot, 75km from the capital Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun laid the foundation stone for the construction of 25MW solar plant on Friday.The government aims to complete the project within a year. Once complete, it will become Nepal’s largest solar power plant at a single location. The power produced by the solar plant will be fed directly into the national grid to supply it to the Kathmandu Valley during the day time. “The solar energy will help to balance the power distribution during peak hours,” the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) said in a statement.Minister Pun said the government has targeted to build solar plants with a total installed capacity of 500MW within the next five years. In February 2015, the World Bank agreed to provide $130mn to the government to build solar stations to supply electricity in the Kathmandu Valley and reduce electricity leakage. Out of that amount, $37mn was earmarked for the installation of solar plants at Devighat and Trishuli in Nuwakot district. Although construction should have begun within a year of signing the aid accord, the NEA took two years to award the contract as the contractor selection process became engulfed in controversy.  NEA started implementing the solar plant project since last year following a court order allowing it to move ahead.