NEA urges hydropower promoters to amend commercial operation dates

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has urged promoters of various hydropower projects to contact them for the amendment of the Required Commercial Operation Date (RCOD) for their projects.

Through a notice, the NEA has called on promoters to come forward with necessary documents to amend the commercial operation start date. The decision to amend the agreements stems from the NEA’s 688th meeting on 2071 Bhadra 31, which noted that the construction of transmission lines and substations, responsibilities of the NEA as per the Power Purchase Agreements and Grid Connection Agreements with private power companies, has not been completed.

The NEA requires the submission of documents proving the acquisition of electricity production permits and the completion of financial arrangements for the projects. Additionally, applications for amending the commercial operation start date must be submitted to the NEA before the current date expires.

The notice also states that details of the progress made in the physical construction of the project, in line with the progress of the NEA’s transmission line and substation construction, are necessary. Private sector promoters have long been requesting an amendment to the commercial operation start date, and it is based on these requests that the NEA has issued the notice for them to get in touch.