The Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project has resumed operations after nearly a month of shutdown, following an agreement to provide 10 percent shares, worth around Rs 190 million, to locals involved in the Gen-Z movement.
Nepal Verified News
Tue Oct 14 2025
Operations at the 45-megawatt Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project in Sindhupalchok have restarted after the company reached a deal with the Gen-Z movement, which had obstructed the project for almost a month demanding 10 percent free shares.
Under the agreement signed on Monday between Gen-Z Public Investment Public Limited and Bhotekoshi Hydropower, locals will receive 10 percent of the company’s shares, valued at around Rs 190 million. The project had suffered an estimated Rs 300 million in losses during the shutdown.
While the group had initially demanded free shares, the final understanding allows the Gen-Z Public Company to obtain a bank loan to purchase the shares, with Bhotekoshi acting as the guarantor. The loan will be repaid using dividends from the project within the next year.
In addition, locals in Sindhupalchok have submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, seeking similar share allocations in ten other hydropower projects in the district.
Expressing concern over the trend, Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN) President Ganesh Karki said that growing pressure for free shares in privately funded projects could discourage future investment. “If companies continue to distribute shares under pressure, it could severely harm the energy sector,” he warned.
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