Nepal Hydropower Development Project Quarterly Report Q1 FY 2019

The project has also supported the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and the Electricity Regulatory Commission of Nepal. Additionally, it provides capacity building to governmental and private stakeholders through workshops, study tours, and other training activities. NHDP provided technical assistance, resources, and policy-related support to OIBN in various areas during the period October-December 2018. Transactional support was provided to OIBN's large hydropower projects (HPPs), including the Arun-3 HPP. The project updated the Risk Matrix for the Arun-3 HPP, established the Arun 3-HPP Project Monitoring Unit (PMU), and developed and implemented the Arun-HPP Project Dashboard. Technical assistance was also provided to conduct a review of the Arun-3 Disaster Management Plan (DMP) and to develop a DMP template for OIBN to use on all future HPPs. NHDP also provided ongoing local legal and negotiation support to OIBN and GoN on contractual issues related to the West Seti and Upper Marsygandi-2 HPPs. Additionally, the project provided local legal support to OIBN on project extension requests from the developers of the Arun 3 and Upper Karnali HPPs. A standardized approach to the review and approval of DMPs for all large HPPs was developed, including a standard form project template for future DMPs overseen by OIBN. NHDP continued to support the management by the GoN of foreign currency risks, including the implementation of a GoN-endorsed and supported hedging mechanism. The project also supported the development and implementation of a mechanism to allocate project shares of large and medium-sized HPPs to affected regions and Project Affected Populations (PAPs). Support was provided to the OIBN's Communications Unit in issues arising related to all HPPs. Arrangements were finalized to conduct capacity building for OIBN on negotiation training during the next quarter. NHDP also provided transactional support to MoEWRI's medium-sized HPPs, including the Upper Trishuli-1 HPP. The project continued to support the management of foreign currency risks, including the implementation of a GoN-supported hedging mechanism. NHDP offered specific personnel to assist OIBN and the GoN to manage foreign currency risks. The project provided capacity building to a number of governmental and private stakeholders through the delivery of workshops, study tours, and other training activities. A study tour to Laos was scheduled for April 2019 for OIBN and other GoN stakeholders. The project also supported the development and implementation of a mechanism to allocate project shares of large and medium-sized HPPs to affected regions and PAPs. NHDP continued to support the development and implementation of a mechanism to allocate project shares of large and medium-sized HPPs to affected regions and PAPs. The project supported the OIBN's Communications Unit in issues arising related to all HPPs. Arrangements were finalized to conduct capacity building for OIBN on negotiation training during the next quarter. The project provided support to the management by the GoN of foreign currency risks, including the implementation of a GoN-endorsed and supported hedging mechanism. NHDP continued to support the development and implementation of a mechanism to allocate project shares of large and medium-sized HPPs to affected regions and PAPs. The project supported the OIBN's Communications Unit in issues arising related to all HPPs.