Kathmandu. The Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has demanded various relief packages for flood-hit hydropower projects.

In a meeting with Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Kulman Ghising on Wednesday, IPPAN Chairman Ganesh Karki said that the government should announce a relief package for the reconstruction of flood-damaged hydropower projects.

Chairman Karki said that a relief package should be brought keeping in mind all the projects damaged by the floods of June 16, 2081, Asar-July 2081 and Asoj 12 and Asar, July 12, 2082 and the date for resumption of power generation (RCOD), license period, loan reschedulement, long-term financing and customs duty waiver, among others.

During the meeting, Energy Minister Kulman Ghising pledged to take initiatives to provide relief to the flood-affected projects. He said that the problems related to forest-related energy projects would be presented in the next cabinet meeting.

Out of 20 hydropower projects in operation due to the heavy rainfall that occurred from October 3, 17 hydropower projects of 135 MW have completely stopped production while three projects of 156 MW have been partially affected. Similarly, 17 hydropower projects with a capacity of 520 MW under construction have also been damaged.

Here are the demands put forth by IPPAN to the Energy Minister{{TAG_OPEN_strong_24 TAG_CLOSE_strong_24}}

1. Arrange for the import of machinery and equipment required for the reconstruction and maintenance of flood-affected projects at 1% customs duty.

2. The RCOD period of the under-construction projects damaged by floods should be extended by 3 years and the license period should be extended by 5 years.

3. Reschedule and refinance of loans of flood-affected projects.

4. Make arrangements for the issue of stalled IPOs and right shares of flood-affected projects as soon as possible.

5. Declare hydropower projects damaged by natural disasters as crisis-hit and take necessary policy decisions.

6. Provide long-term financing to flood-affected projects.

7. If electricity is not generated within the fiscal year 2082/83 to 2084/85, the provision of automatically converting take and pay into PPA should be scrapped.