Nepal Foreign Affairs (Kathmandu, July 13) : The U.S. Embassy, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced the launch of the Nepal Hydropower Development Project (NHDP), on Monday.
The five-year, $9.8 million project implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP will support Government of Nepal efforts to expand the country’s access to modern, high-quality hydropower services and become an energy exporter in South Asia, read a statement issued by the US Embassy in Nepal.
“Working with the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN), the Nepal Electric Authority (NEA), and the Ministry of Energy (MOE), the project will help facilitate private sector investment in hydropower resources in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner. The project will also support the restructuring of the electricity sector to create viable, efficient national power services and promote expanded electricity trade between Nepal and India,” the embassy said.
Economic growth, job creation, higher export revenues through electricity sales; and better energy security by enhancing domestic generating capacity and integration with regional electricity markets are the anticipated long-term results of the project, the embassy said.
“The work under NHDP is a key element of the U.S. Government’s support of power sector development in Nepal. Successful private sector engagement will play a pivotal role in expanding Nepal’s hydropower sector while increasing the amount of energy available for use in Nepal and for regional exports,” U.S. Ambassador to Nepal Peter W. Bodde stated.