KATHMANDU: The Department of Electricity Development has issued survey licences to 99 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 3,211 megawatts in the fiscal year 2025/26.
The department has also issued survey permits for seven solar energy projects with a total capacity of 311 megawatts during the same period.
For transmission line projects, survey licences have been granted for 179 circuit kilometres of 220 kV transmission lines, 270 circuit kilometres of 132 kV transmission lines and 132 circuit kilometres of 33 kV transmission lines.
According to the department, 29 projects have received generation licences with a combined capacity of 1,857 megawatts. Similarly, three solar energy projects with a total capacity of 31 megawatts have also received generation licences.
The department collects around Rs 3.5 billion in royalties annually from energy projects. The collected royalty amount is distributed among provincial and local governments, contributing significantly to their economic growth and development, the department said.
So far, the department has issued generation licences for 264 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 12,336 megawatts. In the solar energy sector, 10 projects with a total capacity of 74.6 megawatts have received generation licences.
The department has also approved the construction of transmission lines, including 1,097 circuit kilometres of 400 kV lines, 656 circuit kilometres of 220 kV lines and 1,608 circuit kilometres of 132 kV lines.
Similarly, projects involving 337 circuit kilometres of 33 kV transmission lines have received approval, according to Department of Electricity Development Director General Mandevi Shrestha.
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