Feedback and public comment is sought. Please use the feedback form.
Chilime, Nepal
Positive sustainability aspect
Local capacity building Chilime is the first Nepali hydropower project to be completely built with local finance and labour. It is a 20 MW run of river scheme that, due in part to the lack of international fund repayment, is able to provide considerably cheaper electricity.
In the past large hydropower schemes in Nepal have been reliant on overseas expertise and financing. The cost of electricity generated from such schemes was often too expensive for local communities. Debt servicing costs also put a strain on the Nepali economy as the domestic currency, the Rupee, has been depreciating. This scheme was a landmark project in that it was scoped and developed using local expertise and was funded entirely from within Nepal. The skills developed are now being applied to several other projects – the largest being the 250 MW Upper Tama Kosi project.
Scheme Specifications
Dam Name
Scheme operator Chilime Hydropower Company and Nepal Energy Authority
Size of scheme (MW) 22.1 MW
Country Nepal
Catchment area N/A
River Chilimekhola - tributary of the Trisuli River
