KATHMANDU: Dolma Impact Fund II has invested Rs 5.30 billion (USD 3.5 million), equivalent to 49 percent of the equity capital of the promoter company of the 22 MW Seti Khola hydropower project. This investment marks the largest investment made by Dolma Fund in the hydropower sector.
Dolma Fund II has already invested USD 3.2 million in the 28.1 MW Swetganga project, USD 2.5 million in two Suri River projects of 7.1 MW and 6.4 MW, and USD 20 million in 5 MW of solar energy. Anup Acharya, the president of the company, stated that a consortium of Nepali banks – Nepal Infrastructure Bank, Nabil Bank, and Kumari Bank – will invest 49 percent of the Rs1.25 billion equity capital of the project through Dolma Impact Fund.
During a program on Dolma’s investment in the project, British Ambassador to Nepal Nicola Pollitt said that Dolma’s investment in Seti Khola is the fifth investment from the company. She emphasized the importance of hydropower production in boosting the supply of power in the South Asian energy market. “There is potential for clean energy in Nepal. As Nepal lacks sufficient investment in clean energy, Dolma’s investment will significantly contribute to long-term energy security,” said Pollitt.
The significance of clean energy investment in Nepal was highlighted by the Chairman of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Dilli Bahadur Singh, CEO of Nabil Bank Gyanendra Bahadur Dhungana, CEO of Nepal Infrastructure Bank Ramkrishna Khatiwada, Managing Director of Dolma Fund Bidyawaridhi Sigdel, and others.