KATHMANDU

A consortium of banks led by Laxmi Sunrise Bank Ltd. has signed a facility agreement with Super Bagmati Hydropower Ltd. to finance the 41.314 megawatt run-of-the-river Super Lower Bagmati Hydropower Project. The project is being constructed along the Bagmati River in Lalitpur and Makwanpur districts, with an estimated project cost of NPR 9.28 billion. This venture will play a crucial role in Nepal’s renewable energy landscape.

Super Bagmati Hydropower had received the generation license from the Department of Electricity Development on January 26, 2022, and subsequently signed the power purchase agreement with the Nepal Electricity Authority on July 10, 2023. The company is being promoted by Asian Life Insurance and ANK Construction.

The banks have committed to financing approximately 74.33% of the project cost, while the remaining 25.67% will be invested by the project promoters. The Project Finance (Term Loan) commitment from Laxmi Sunrise Bank is NPR 3.4 billion, whereas the commitment from Everest Bank (co-lead bank) is NPR 2.5 billion and Citizens Bank International is NPR 1 billion.

The Super Lower Bagmati Hydropower Project is anticipated to generate an estimated 243.8 GWh of power annually for the national grid and will be one of the largest independent power producers (IPP) when it comes into operation in June 2028.