Seti Khola Hydropower Begins Power Generation, IPO Plan Follows

The 22 MW Seti Khola Hydropower Project, located in Pokhara Metropolitan City–33, Kaski, has officially begun electricity generation. Developed by Seti Khola Hydropower Limited, the project has started supplying power to Nepal’s national transmission grid on a trial basis after successfully completing technical inspection and testing by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). According to the project's director, Deepak Baral, the hydropower plant will remain under a 15-day testing phase before commencing full commercial operation. During this period, both the power generation system and technical equipment will undergo final performance evaluations while electricity continues to be fed into the national grid. Construction of the project began in December 2021 (Mangsir 2078 BS) and was initially targeted for completion last December. However, delays in obtaining forest clearance for transmission line infrastructure pushed back the timeline. Three of the project's five transmission towers were located within forest areas, requiring additional regulatory approval. Built at an investment of approximately Rs 5.05 billion, the project features a dam at Tiklang in Pokhara–33 and a 3,106-meter tunnel that channels water to the powerhouse at Lower Punditar. The facility is equipped with two 11 MW turbines, generating a total installed capacity of 22 MW. The company has also announced plans to issue an Initial Public Offering (IPO) within the next fiscal year after the project enters commercial operation. Meanwhile, hydropower development along the Seti River continues to expand, with several other projects under construction and development, further strengthening Nepal's renewable energy capacity.