SJVN Chief Meets Nepal Ministers on Hydropower
SJVN's chairman held talks with Nepal's finance and energy ministers in Kathmandu to speed up hydropower projects.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Utilities
Bhupender Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of SJVN, met senior Nepalese ministers and officials in Kathmandu on Monday to expedite hydropower projects. Both sides agreed to strengthen coordination to address project bottlenecks and ensure timely execution.
Why it matters
The meetings aim to move forward SJVN's hydropower investments in Nepal, which are implemented through its subsidiaries SAPDC and SLPDC. Coordinated government engagement is intended to reduce delays on large generation and transmission projects.
The Arun-3 hydroelectric project is 900 MW and includes a 217 km transmission line, while the Lower Arun project is 669 MW. The source does not specify expected completion dates or the specific bottlenecks being addressed.
The players
SJVN
SJVN is an Indian state-owned hydropower company that develops hydroelectric and renewable energy projects, including those in Nepal through its subsidiaries.
Swarnim Wagle
Swarnim Wagle is Nepal's Finance Minister, responsible for the country's public finances and budget policy.
Biraj Bhakta Shrestha
Biraj Bhakta Shrestha is Nepal's Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, overseeing the country's hydropower and water sectors.
Yanki Ukyab
Yanki Ukyab is the CEO of Investment Board Nepal, the agency that coordinates investment projects in the country.
The details
Gupta met Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, and Investment Board Nepal CEO Yanki Ukyab, with senior officials from the Finance Ministry and Investment Board Nepal attending. Discussions covered the Arun-3 project, its 217 km transmission line, and the Lower Arun project.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: high-level meetings held in Kathmandu.
Market Landscape
The meetings follow the pattern of Indian state-owned utilities such as SJVN pursuing large hydropower projects across Nepal's border. The push to resolve bottlenecks reflects ongoing efforts to convert those cross-border agreements into operating capacity.
Faster implementation of these projects could affect the timing of electricity supply from the Arun-3 and Lower Arun plants. The extraction does not describe consumer-facing pricing or availability changes.
The takeaway
Large cross-border hydropower projects depend on coordination between governments and developers to clear bottlenecks. Watch for announced timelines that show whether these meetings translate into faster delivery.
Further reading
Explore more Utilities coverage for context on cross-border power development.
