नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरणले विद्युत् खरिद–बिक्री सम्झौता (पिपिए) भइसके पनि विभिन्न कारणले समयमै व्यावसायिक उत्पादन सुरु गर्न नसकेका २१८ जलविद्युत् आयोजनाको व्यावसायिक उत्पादन सुरु गर्ने अन्तिम मिति (आरसिओडी) थप्ने प्रक्रिया अघि बढाएको छ। यसका लागि पहिलोपटक स्पष्ट मापदण्डका आधारमा आयोजनालाई चार समूहमा वर्गीकरण गर्ने व्यवस्था लागू गरिएको छ।
प्राधिकरण सञ्चालक समितिको निर्णयअनुसार आयोजनाको भौतिक प्रगति, पिपिएअन्तर्गतका दायित्व पूरा भएको अवस्था र आरसिओडीको स्थितिका आधारमा वर्गीकरण गरिएको हो। प्रारम्भिक चरणमा समूह ‘क’ र ‘ख’ मा परेका आयोजनाको आरसिओडी थप्ने प्रक्रिया अघि बढाइएको प्राधिकरणले जनाएको छ।
ऊर्जा, जलस्रोत तथा सिँचाइमन्त्री विराज भक्त श्रेष्ठले सरकारले निजी क्षेत्रलाई दण्डित गर्ने होइन, निर्माणाधीन आयोजना समयमै सम्पन्न गर्न सहजीकरण गर्ने उद्देश्यले यो निर्णय गरिएको बताए। उनले आरसिओडी थप्ने निर्णय संस्थागत प्रक्रिया र स्पष्ट मापदण्डका आधारमा हुने भएकाले लगानीकर्ताको विश्वास कायम हुने विश्वास व्यक्त गरे।
हाल देशभर ८ हजार २९२ मेगावाट क्षमताका ३२० जलविद्युत् आयोजना निर्माणाधीन छन्। तीमध्ये १५० आयोजना समूह ‘क’ र ६८ आयोजना समूह ‘ख’ मा परेका छन्। प्राधिकरणका अनुसार आवश्यक प्रगति हासिल नगरेका वा पिपिएका आधारभूत दायित्व पूरा नगरेका आयोजना भने समूह ‘ग’ र ‘घ’ मा राखिएका छन्।
समूह ‘ख’ मा रहेका आयोजनाको नियमित अनुगमन गरिनेछ भने समूह ‘ग’ का आयोजनालाई ‘नोटिस अफ डिफल्ट’ जारी गरिने व्यवस्था गरिएको छ। सुधार नदेखिए वा सन्तोषजनक जवाफ प्राप्त नभए पिपिए रद्द गर्ने प्रक्रिया अघि बढाइने प्राधिकरणले जनाएको छ।
Kathmandu: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has begun extending the Required Commercial Operation Date (RCOD) for 218 hydropower projects that have signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) but failed to begin commercial electricity generation within the stipulated timeframe. The authority has, for the first time, introduced a classification system that groups projects into four categories based on clearly defined criteria.
The decision was endorsed by the NEA Board on July 16 (Asar 32), with project classification determined by physical construction progress, compliance with obligations under the PPA and the status of each project's RCOD. In the first phase, the authority has initiated the extension process for projects placed in Groups 'A' and 'B'.
Speaking at a meeting with private hydropower developers on Wednesday, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said the government's objective is to facilitate the completion of under-construction projects rather than penalise private investors. He added that RCOD extensions would be granted through an institutional process based on objective criteria rather than discretionary decisions.
According to the NEA, Nepal currently has 320 hydropower projects under construction with a combined installed capacity of 8,292 megawatts. Of these, 150 projects with a total capacity of 4,491 MW fall under Group 'A', while 68 projects with a combined capacity of 1,420 MW have been placed in Group 'B'. The remaining projects have been classified under Groups 'C' and 'D'.
Under the new framework, projects in Group 'A' and eligible projects in Group 'B' will be allowed to move forward with RCOD extensions. Projects in Group 'B' will also be subject to regular monitoring to ensure timely completion. Meanwhile, projects classified under Group 'C' will receive a Notice of Default, and if developers fail to demonstrate satisfactory progress or provide an acceptable explanation, the NEA may initiate procedures to terminate their PPAs.
The new policy marks a shift towards a more structured approach to project oversight. By linking RCOD extensions to measurable construction progress and contractual compliance, the authority aims to support viable projects while strengthening accountability across Nepal's hydropower sector.
