The Japanese government has been providing significant support for the development and expansion of the energy sector in Nepal. The support provided by Japan is important for the development of physical infrastructure, modern transmission and distribution system improvement.
During the visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Khamikawa to Nepal, the support provided by the Japanese government is being praised out loud.
It has been 70 years since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established. At this historic moment, the Japanese foreign minister visited Nepal. Nepal has also gradually started benefiting from the progress made by Japan in the field of physical development.
Japan’s support, especially for the development of the energy sector, has also been important and special in itself. According to Sandeep Kumar Dev, joint secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Japan is a reliable friend for the development of Nepal’s energy sector.
Last time, the government also requested for investment in Upper Arun with a capacity of 1062 MW. World Bank, Asian Development Bank and others have agreed in principle to invest in co-financing in this project. Upper Arun is an important project to meet Nepal’s energy security and winter demand.
The Japanese government has provided technical support for the implementation of the Integrated Power Development Plan. For the strengthening of transmission and distribution system, the Government of Japan has provided concessional loan assistance worth 20 million US dollars. This has helped to make the country’s energy sector reliable and trustworthy.
For the implementation of the urban electricity transmission and distribution system strengthening project, a concessional loan worth Rs.
Construction of five substations with a capacity of 132 kV and 15 kilometers of transmission lines with a capacity of 132 kV underground is being done according to the government’s goal with the help of the concessional loan. Work is currently being done according to the same goal. The concessional loan has an annual interest rate of zero point zero one percent. There is a total repayment period of 30 years and an extension period of 10 years.
Through the project, a transmission line of 132 KV capacity will be undergrounded for about two kilometers from the substation at Teku in Kathmandu and connected to the switching station in Thapathali. Similarly, in addition to Balaju substation, a substation will be constructed in Narayanhiti Durbar area, and a substation will be constructed at Sirutar in Bhaktapur.
Similarly, a substation of 132 kV capacity will be constructed in Pokhara Metropolitan City-17 Biruta of Kaski. The goal is to make Pokhara’s urban electricity supply reliable by constructing a substation in Biruta, from Lekhnath 132 kV transmission line in Kaligand. It cooperated with the Asian Development Bank in the Kaligandaki hydropower project with a capacity of 144 megawatts.
For this project, Japan provided loan support of 762 million Japanese currency in 2006 and 2007.
Support is also available from the Japanese government for the underground works of the transmission and distribution system in Kathmandu valley, Pokhara in Kaski and Bharatpur in Chitwan. Similarly, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has invested 184 million US dollars in the Tanhu Seti hydropower project with a capacity of 140 megawatts. The project is currently under construction.
Similarly, the lower Tanahun Seti hydropower project with a capacity of 126 megawatts will be constructed on the lower coast of the same project. Tanahun Hydropower Limited, a subsidiary company of Nepal Electricity Authority, is also preparing to build the project.
The Japanese government has also been requested for loan assistance for the construction of the project. The Lower Tanahun Seti Project will be constructed in Ward No. 6 of Bandipur Rural Municipality and Ward No. 3 of Devghat Rural Municipality located on the lower bank 18 kilometers below the tailrace of the under construction Tanahun Reservoir project. Five hundred and twenty-one gigawatt hours of energy will be generated from the project.
Similarly, the government has asked Japan to invest in some other big projects. The Japanese government has been providing significant support in the field of alternative energy. Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet said that Japan is providing significant support for the development of Nepal’s energy sector. He said that proposals have been made for the investment of some big projects and the results will be received soon.
In particular, Japan has supported the construction of BP Highway, Kathmandu Nagadhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel, Kathmandu Koteshwar road. Similarly, it has promised to help in the construction of underpass and tunnel in Kateshwar. Japanese Foreign Minister Khamikhawa, who visited Nepal at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayankaji Shrestha, held a courtesy meeting with President Ramchandra Poudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
Dr. Rupak Sapkota, the Prime Minister’s Foreign Advisor informed that in the meeting with the Prime Minister at the Singha Durbar, various issues including bilateral interests, economic cooperation were discussed. In the meeting, Prime Minister Prachanda said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan, the Japanese government has been supporting the economic and social development of Nepal and recently it has also provided significant support in the construction of major infrastructure in Nepal.
He has been receiving support from the Japanese government in the infrastructure and economic-social sectors of Nepal. He thanked the donation. It has also been over 120 years since the government sent eight Nepali students to study in Japan for the first time in 1902.
The two countries are connected by direct air flight. At present, the number of Nepalis living in Japan has exceeded 170 thousand. People-to-people relations between the two countries have expanded on this basis.