Kathmandu, February 9
The Investment Board has given permission for feasibility study of two large solar projects. A meeting of the board held at the PM’s residence in Baluwatar yesterday gave permission for a feasibility study for solar power generation of 125 MW in Dipayal Silgadhi municipality of Doti district and 225 MW in Amargadhi municipality of Dadeldhura district. The total cost of these projects is Rs. 23 billion.
The board has given permission to MS Central Electronics Limited for the feasibility study. The meeting has approved an investment of Rs. 9 billion 686.34 million for capacity building and diversification of production of Dabur Nepal Pvt. The preliminary report submitted by the proposed company Sutlej bidhyut Nigam, which has been selected for the construction, ownership, operation, and transfer of the Lower Arun Hydropower Project, has been approved.
The office has been authorized to sign MoUs with various organizations regarding investment promotion. Similarly, Bhagwan Aryal, spokesperson of the board informed that it has given its approval to join the World Association of PPA Units and Professionals (WAPP) in Geneva. The meeting has decided to make public the report on the comparative study of the technology of establishing chemical fertilizer factory in Nepal prepared by the office of the Board of Investment.
In the meeting, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the government was committed to creating an investment-friendly environment by making necessary policy and legal reforms to attract investors. He directed the Office of the Investment Board for Economic Development and the concerned bodies of the Government of Nepal to diversify the infrastructure and expedite the work related to the feasibility study and focus on the construction of the project.
Chief Executive Officer Sushil Bhatta briefed about the progress made in the project
implementation, facilitation and development, and institutional reform and the activities
undertaken by the office of the Board of Investment as directed by the previous board meeting.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister and Vice Chairman of the Board Shri Janardan Sharma, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal, Minister for Forest and Environment Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission Dr. Bishwanath Poudel, Chief Secretary to the Government of Nepal Shankar Das Bairagi, Board Member Haribhakta Sharma, Bhavani Rana, Rajesh Kaji Shrestha and others.
By Karuna Thapa
