Government of Nepal launches tender for energy consultants

The government of Nepal has launched a search process for external consulting support in the energy sector.

Made public yesterday, a new tender by the government calls local and international consulting firms to respond to a request for proposal for the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Power System Expansion project.

This project is an integral part of Nepal’s plans to expand its power system, which includes building new transmission lines, upgrading existing ones, and constructing renewable energy systems for remote areas.

The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Power System Expansion project plans to build more than 200 kilometers of power transmission lines and substations along the Kaligandaki corridor in the Himalayas and Marsyangdi-Kathmandu route in central Nepal. More than 1,000 kilometers of power distribution lines in the eastern, central, and western parts of the country will also be built or upgraded.

The project will involve the construction of small hydroelectric power plants, minigrid-based solar, and solar-wind hybrid energy systems, in a bid to bring affordable renewable energy to remote areas.

The deadline for expressing interest is February 27, with the tentative commencement date set for early April. The project is receiving grant assistance from the Asian Development Bank.