Present Status & Progress

The Tila-1 Hydropower Project (440 MW) has achieved major institutional, statutory, and technical milestones. With a formal Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) executed with NEA, approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and a 400 kV Grid Connection Agreement signed with RPGCL, the project is actively advancing consortium debt financing with lead arranger NMB Bank Ltd.

Approvals, Licenses & Compliance Status

Compliance / Statutory Item Governing Authority Date / Reference Current Status & Description
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) 2081/07/07 B.S. (Oct 23, 2024 A.D.) Completed: Formal PPA executed executed for commercial energy off-take (298.75 MW PPA capacity).
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Ministry of Forests & Environment 2071/07/30 B.S. (Nov 14, 2014 A.D.) Approved: Comprehensive environmental baseline cleared with updated mitigation plans.
400 kV Grid Interconnection MoU Rastriya Prasaran Grid Company Ltd (RPGCL) Karnali Corridor Plan Signed: Power evacuation secured into 400 kV Phukot Hub Substation via 6 km double-circuit TL.
Due Diligence & DPR Optimization Shah Consult International (P.) Ltd. Agreement Active (2026) Underway: Engineering review, geotechnical optimization, and bid document packaging.
Consortium Debt Financing NMB Bank Ltd. (Lead Arranger) Consortium Syndication Advanced Stage: Term loan limit of NPR 10,000M facility with 8+ participating financial institutions.

Banking Consortium Site Inspection Visits (July 2026)

Senior hydro engineering, risk appraisal, and environment & social risk (ESR) officers from Nepal’s foremost commercial banks and the Employees Provident Fund conducted comprehensive on-site inspections at Kalikot:

Inspection Tour 1 • 9th – 11th July 2026 (25–27 Ashadh 2083 B.S.)

First Consortium Due Diligence Delegation

  • • NMB Bank Ltd: Mr. Sushant Adhikari (Manager Hydro – Due Diligence, Monitoring & Control) & Mr. Bishal Bhattarai (Officer – Environment & Social Risk)
  • • Prabhu Bank Ltd: Mr. Prem Prasad Dhamala (Relationship Manager)
  • • NIC Asia Bank Ltd: Mr. Anush Raj Upadhayay (Relationship Manager)
  • • Employees Provident Fund (EPF): Mr. Shiva Raj Poudel (Senior Manager)
  • • S.C. Power Co. Leadership: Mr. Roshan Shah (Project Director) & Mr. Milan Khatiwada (Admin & Accounts)
Inspection Tour 2 • 20th – 22nd July 2026 (4–6 Shrawan 2083 B.S.)

Second Risk & Environmental Appraisal Team

  • • NMB Bank Ltd: Mr. Shiva Raj Pudasaini (Officer – Environment & Social Risk)
  • • Shangri-la Development Bank Ltd: Mr. Sulav Joshi (Chief Risk Officer) & Mr. Sushan Maharjan
  • • Muktinath Bikas Bank Ltd: Project Finance Risk Team
  • • Key Findings: Verified rock mass stability at dam axis, inspected exploratory adit portals, and validated transmission right-of-way to Phukot Substation.

Project Execution Timeline (2006 – 2030)

September 2006 (2063 B.S.)

Company Incorporation

S.C. Power Company Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated under the laws of Nepal (Reg No. 41031/063/064) with the mandate to pioneer mega-hydropower projects in Karnali Province.

November 2014 (2071 B.S.)

Environmental Clearance Approved

Ministry of Forests and Environment formally approved the comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), certifying social and ecological baseline mitigation.

October 2024 (2081 B.S.)

PPA Executed with NEA

S.C. Power Company signed the historic Power Purchase Agreement with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for 298.75 MW peaking capacity, securing guaranteed long-term revenue off-take.

July 2026 (2083 B.S.)

Bank Consortium Site Inspection & Due Diligence

Consortium team led by NMB Bank Ltd. along with Prabhu Bank, NIC Asia Bank, and Employees Provident Fund completed detailed geotechnical and environmental site appraisals in Kalikot.

2026 – 2027

Financial Closure & EPC Contract Award

Execution of final consortium credit agreements and mobilization of international Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contractors for main civil and tunneling works.

December 2030 (2087 B.S.)

Commercial Operation Date (COD)

Successful synchronization with the 400 kV Karnali Corridor transmission line, delivering 440 MW of clean peaking hydroelectricity to the national and regional power grid.