Jhapa solar plant aiming to attract tourists

By Bishnu Prasad Pokharel,Damak, Jan. 25: Jhapa Energy Limited's solar power plant in Bolochowk, Shivasatakshi Municipality-4, is going to both generate electricity and attract tourists. The plant will be formally inaugurated on February 6 by CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

According LP Sawa Limbu, member of the House of Representatives and chairman of Jhapa Energy, the plant has the capacity to produce 12 megawatts and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started purchasing 10 megawatts from it at a cost of Rs. 7.30 per unit.

Limbu hoped the project would link energy with tourism. "We are working to turn this plant into a solar park that lures visitors," he said, adding that they planned to plant flowers, build resorts and fun parks and construct sports related infrastructure to bring people from inside and outside the country. "We are also building a view tower," Limbu informed.

The solar plant covers an area of 21 Bighas and was set up with an investment of Rs. 810 million. Of this amount, 75 per cent was provided by financial institutions while 25 per cent was put in by locals, Narayan Prasad Pokharel, project chief of Jhapa Energy told The Rising Nepal.   Pokharel also informed that the Jhapa Energy and the NEA signed an agreement to purchase power on November 28, 2021.