This file photo shared by SJVN Limited on its Facebook page shows PM KP Sharma Oli with SJVN Chairman Nanda Lal Sharma (right). A meeting of the Investment Board chaired by PM Oli has selected SJVN for project framework development of Lower Arun Hydropower Project.

January 31: The Government of Nepal has selected India’s SJVN Limited to prepare the project framework for the 679-megawat capacity Lower Arun Hyrdropower Project.    
The framework for the project will be developed as Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model under the public-private partnership framework, according to the state-owned national news agency, RSS. A decision to this end was taken by a meeting on Friday of the Investment Board of Nepal chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.    
RSS further stated that the selection was made on the basis of an assessment of the companies listed through international bidding. The 679-MW project will be based in Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur districts. The project was proposed before international investors during the Nepal Investment Summit held in Kathmandu in 2019.    
During Friday’s meeting, Prime Minister and Chair of the Board Oli said that a plan should also be developed to increase power consumption along with production, for which the infrastructure projects needs to be implemented on time, according to IBN spokesperson Dharmendra Kumar Mishra.    
 Meanwhile the meeting decided to invite as experts to the Board Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, Hari Bhakta Sharma and Bhawani Rana, and Bal Krishna Shiwakoti as members.