. The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) has appealed to the Home Minister and the Energy Minister, citing the security threat in hydropower projects in recent period.

Writing a letter to both the ministers on Sunday, IPPAN Chairman Ganesh Karki said that the government has demanded security from the government as the government has been demanding 10 percent free share in the projects that have already been completed, under construction and are going to be constructed.

The letter calls on the investors to create an environment conducive for investment confidently, considering the need and importance of energy sector as the major and important sector for the economic prosperity of the country.

The power house has been shut down for the past 17 days, demanding 10 percent free share in the 45 MW Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project in the name of Jenji Group of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality.

Due to this, the loss of more than 16 crores, including about 98 lakhs daily, is said to be more than 16 crores. “Serious attention of IPPAN has been drawn towards the incident of not allowing the power plant to go for daily maintenance and monitoring even after shutting down,” reads the letter.

Similarly, a letter has been sent to the locals of Jugal Rural Municipality of Sindhupalchowk asking for free shares from 10 hydropower projects.

The obstruction in the project will increase the cost and time of the project and also completely discourage the investment of the private sector. The letter states that in recent years, there has been an increase in attacks, vandalism and arson by various groups on power projects.

As this has made the private sector’s investment insecure, it has also demanded the formulation of a separate energy security policy to guarantee the security of investment in energy to domestic and foreign investors in the long term