Chinese firm eyes West Seti project

China Three Gorges Corporation has written to the Nepal's Prime Minister expressing its interest in investing in the 750 MW West Seti Hydro-Project.

West Seti Hydropower Limited, which was licensed to construct Nepal's largest reservoir-type hydropower project
initiated 13 years ago project, was unable to rope in investors for thirteen years. It finally withdrew from the projects two months ago.

However, the government is yet to scrap the company's licence as it has not decided whether to provide six more months to the company as per the contract.

"We have noted Nepal Government's plan to develop West Seti-Hydroelectricity Project to cater to domestic energy needs. This is to officially submit expression of our interest for developing the project in shortest possible time," the CTGC letter.

The letter signed by Lu Guojun, assistant president of the corporation, further said: "We would be flexible on developing the project as the sole developer or a part of a Joint Venture or any other form of collaboration with the Government of Nepal or Nepal Electricity Authority."

The corporation would also be willing to invest necessary resources to update/upgrade the project design, it added.

The estimated cost of the project is $1.2-$1.7 billion and most of the preliminary work such as Environmental Impact Assessment and Detail Engineering Report have already been prepared.

The full story is available at thehimalayantimes.com.