China vies with India for Nepal power project
October 22nd, 2010 - 3:10 pm ICT by IANSBy Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu, Oct 22 (IANS) Three Indian companies and an Indian joint venture are vying with three Chinese companies for a hydropower project in Nepal, underscoring the two giant neighbours’ growing interest, presence and eventual rivalry in Nepal’s energy industry.
Larsen and Toubro, and Mumbai’s Jyoti Structures Ltd and KEC International Ltd are the three Indian companies that have been shortlisted from nearly a dozen for turnkey operations including laying transmission lines and building a substation for the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project, Nepal’s biggest hydel project being built with domestic funding.
To be built on the Tamakoshi river in Dolakha district in northern Nepal, the project is being developed by Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Ltd (UTHL), a subsidiary of the state-run Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
The Indian joint venture in the fray is partnered by Spain’s Cobras Instalaciones Y Servicios and the New Delhi-based Aravali Infrapower Ltd.
The increasing Chinese presence in Nepal’s infrastructure industry - ranging from hydropower projects to hotels and housing - is borne out by the three pre-qualified Chinese companies: Sinohydro Corporation, Central China Power Grid International Economic and Trade Company, and Shanghai Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Engineering.
Upper Tamakoshi, with an estimated cost of over NRS 35 billion, is being funded by NEA, UTHL and Nepal’s Employees’ Provident Fund, that is providing a long-term loan of NRS 10 billion.
Sinohydro has an edge over its competitors, having already been awarded the contract for the main civil construction work. This entails building a tunnel, dam and powerhouse.
The project is expected to be completed by 2015.
(Sudeshna Sarkar can be contacted at sudeshna.s@ians.in)
- China follows Indian cue, enters Nepal's hydropower sector - Nov 08, 2009
- Nepal Maoists say no to export-oriented power projects - Jun 20, 2011
- KEC International bags Rs.550 crore orders - Apr 13, 2011
- PTC India's mega deal to buy Nepal power grounded - Jan 25, 2011
- Nepal Maoists renew attack on GMR - Jun 14, 2011
- Indian hydro investors face fresh uncertainty in Nepal - Sep 22, 2010
- Hydropower major forays into wind power - Feb 09, 2012
- Attack on GMR to cost Nepal dear - May 27, 2011
- GMR project under attack in Nepal - Apr 17, 2011
- Nepal Maoists halt India-aided railway survey in Nepal - Oct 22, 2010
- India seeks diversified cooperation with Nepal on R'Day - Jan 26, 2011
- Nepal silence on Mumbai blasts shows drift in India ties - Jul 14, 2011
- ITC's Nepal subsidiary closes garment unit - Aug 17, 2011
- Nepal puts off army security for GMR under Maoist pressure - Jun 25, 2011
- Indian telecom JV reels under step-motherly treatment in Nepal - Jan 18, 2011
Tags: central china, china power, chinese companies, chinese presence, distribution engineering, electric power transmission, electricity authority, employees provident fund, hydel, hydroelectric project, hydropower project, hydropower projects, infrastructure industry, jyoti structures, kec international ltd, larsen and toubro, northern nepal, power transmission and distribution, tunnel dam, turnkey operations