Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project Donates Ambulance to Uttargaya Rural Municipality
Rasuwa – In a continued effort to uplift communities affected by its operations, the Nepal Water and Energy Development Company (NWEDC), developer of the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, has donated a fully-equipped ambulance to Uttargaya Rural Municipality in Rasuwa district.
The keys to the ambulance were officially handed over by Mr. Byeong Soo Min, CEO of NWEDC, to Mr. Madhav Prasad Aryal, Chairperson of the Rural Municipality, during a handover ceremony held at the municipality’s office in Ward No. 5, Khaltebagar.
The ambulance, furnished with modern medical equipment, will be operated by the local health post and is expected to provide emergency transportation services for disaster victims, accident casualties, critical patients, and maternity cases from the surrounding project-affected areas.
This initiative falls under NWEDC’s Community Support Program (CSP), which focuses on improving public health and infrastructure for communities impacted by the hydropower project. The company had previously donated a similar ambulance to Aamachhodingmo Rural Municipality, now operated by the Haku Health Post.
Speaking at the event, CEO Mr. Byeong Soo Min highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting affected communities. “We are confident that this ambulance will significantly enhance timely access to healthcare services for people in remote areas,” he said, urging continued cooperation for the successful completion of the hydropower project.
Mr. Madhav Prasad Aryal, Chairperson of Uttargaya Rural Municipality, emphasized the positive impact the ambulance will have in improving healthcare access in the region. He called for close coordination between local authorities and the project to ensure effective implementation of all community support initiatives.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Vice-Chairperson of the Rural Municipality, ward officials, executive members, health center representatives, members of the Indigenous Nationalities Council, and local residents.
Valued at NPR 2.5 million, the ambulance was imported under customs duty exemption granted by the Government of Nepal and meets the standards set by the National Ambulance Directive.
To date, the Upper Trishuli-1 project has invested over NPR 170 million in local development through CSP, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, and the Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP). Support has spanned sectors including education, healthcare, drinking water, road infrastructure, cultural preservation, disaster relief, and income generation.
Backed by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and led by the Korean state-owned utility KOEN, the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project is Nepal’s largest foreign-funded hydropower project under construction for domestic energy use. Key construction works are being carried out by Korean contractor Doosan Enerbility under an EPC model. The project is jointly funded by KOEN, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, and other partners.
As of June 2025, the project has reached 63% physical completion, with only 400 meters of its 9.5 km-long headrace tunnel left to excavate. Around 1,000 workers are currently employed, with 40% hired from local communities.
Once operational, the project is expected to generate around 1,456 GWh of electricity annually, including a firm supply of 104 MW even during winter, enhancing the stability and reliability of Nepal’s power grid. Project completion is targeted for December 2026.
