Notice
Bikash Hydropower Company Ltd. Informs Stakeholders of Flood Damage and Shutdown at Upper Machha Khola Small Hydropower Project
Bikash Hydropower Company Ltd. has notified regulators and stakeholders that its 4.55 MW Upper Machha Khola Small Hydropower Project has been shut down after a sudden flood in the Budhigandaki River damaged the project’s headworks area. The extent of the damage is not yet known, and the time needed to repair the transmission line and restart operations is uncertain.
Bikash Hydropower Company Ltd. has issued a formal notice to Nepal Rastra Bank-regulated and capital market stakeholders. These are the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), Nepal Stock Exchange Ltd. (NEPSE), the Office of the Company Registrar, CDS and Clearing Ltd., and the Electricity Regulatory Commission.
According to the notice, a sudden and severe flood in the Budhigandaki River on 2083/06/25 B.S. caused damage to the upper Machha Khola area of the 4.55 MW Upper Machha Khola Small Hydropower Project. As a result, the project is currently completely shut down.
The company stated that a detailed assessment of the damage is not yet available. Because the transmission line may have been affected, it cannot say when repair work will be completed or when the project can be restarted with certainty. Project operations are therefore expected to remain affected for an uncertain period.
The company added that, following this major flood, managing manpower, arranging necessary materials, repairing the damaged structures and resuming electricity generation may prove especially challenging. It said it will inform all concerned parties promptly once the extent of the damage has been assessed and the required repair and restart plans are in place.
The notice was signed by Krishna Prasad Ghimire, Managing Director, with a copy marked to Prabhu Capital Limited, Kamaladi, Kathmandu.
