Japan hands over solar power plant to KUKL

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Friday handed over 680 KW-capacity solar power plant to Kathmandu Uaptyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL).
The energy assistance has come at a time when the water utility company was facing difficulty in operating its deep tube well due to load-shedding. KUKL intends to sell surplus energy to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) by supplying it to the national grid.
“Almost one-third of power generated by the plant will be used by KUKL. Remaining will be sold to NEA,” Hari Prasad Dhakal, executive director of the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board (KVWSMB), said.
According to Dhakal, KUKL will generate revenue of Rs 3.1 million per year by selling surplus power to the NEA.
“It´s a big respite for valley denizens. Now, they would get water supplied by KUKL even during load-shedding,” Kunio Takahashi, Japanese envoy to Nepal, said in the handover ceremony organized at Dhobighat, Lalitpur.
Workers busy in fixing block at the construction site of the project of the Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System on the Aid of Japan Grant in cooperation with Government of Nepal. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
Takahashi handed over the key of solar plant to Kishore Thapa, secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD).
This is the first time solar energy has been added to national power grid.
“We are very excited about the project. It´s a good model to replicate in other parts of the country,” Rameshwor Yadav, managing director of the NEA, said.
The plant was installed at an investment of Rs 538 million.
“This is an important project from every perspective. I hope KUKL will make optimum utilization of the project,” said Takahashi.
Inaugurating the plant, Secretary Thapa, said: “The solar plant, even in the small scale, can be useful in addressing the country´s power crisis.” He also requested the private sector to replicate the model in different parts of the country.