Amachhodingmo Rural Municipality in Rasuwa district has received a modern ambulance to support humanitarian services for residents in project-affected areas. The ambulance aims to assist those injured in disasters and accidents, patients with serious illnesses, and pregnant women. Provided under the project’s community support program, it will be operated by the Haku Health Post, located in Amachhodingmo Rural Municipality-1. Another ambulance will soon be provided to Uttargaya Rural Municipality, also affected by the project.
The ambulance is expected to play a vital role in saving lives by ensuring timely transportation of the sick and injured to hospitals. The project is promoted by Nepal Water and Energy Development Company CEO Byong Su Min, who officially handed over the ambulance keys to Rural Municipality Chairperson Buchung Tamang during a ceremony in Haku on Monday.
The handover event was attended by ward chairpersons of Amachhodingmo-1 and 2, health center chiefs, Indigenous Peoples Council representatives, local residents, and others. At the event, Su Min stated that the well-equipped ambulance was provided to enhance emergency healthcare access in remote project-affected areas. “We believe this ambulance will be a milestone in ensuring timely medical access and expanding basic health services,” he said.
Chairperson Tamang emphasized that development projects succeed only through collaboration with local communities. He called for inclusive implementation, highlighting that local residents should be the first to benefit. He also noted that the ambulance will help bring modern healthcare to remote regions.
The ambulance was purchased in compliance with the National Ambulance Directive, and the Government of Nepal exempted its import from taxes. The total cost under the exemption was Rs 2.5m.
So far, the project has invested around Rs 170m in affected areas through its community support initiatives. These include education, health, drinking water, road infrastructure, cultural preservation, relief distribution, livelihood support, and income generation under its Social Support Program (SSP), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Indigenous Community Planning Program.
Led by Korean companies, the project involves constructing a dam and associated structures in Hakuma (Amachhodingmo-1) and an underground powerhouse in Uttargaya-1. Upper Trishuli-1 is the largest hydropower project under construction in Nepal with direct foreign investment, aimed at domestic energy consumption.
Main construction began in Dec 2021 and is progressing rapidly. Overall physical progress stands at 56 percent. The Korean firm Doosan Enerbility is responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction. The project is promoted by Nepal Water and Energy Development Company, with equity investments from Korea South-East Power Co (KOEN), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other partners.
The project is financed through 70 percent debt and 30 percent equity. Nine international financial institutions have committed $453.2m in loans, with the total project cost estimated at $647m (including interest during construction). The remaining amount has been raised through equity.
Upper Trishuli-1 will generate 1.53bn units of electricity annually—38.75 percent in the winter and 61.25 percent in the rainy season. The energy will be connected to Nepal Electricity Authority’s Trishuli-3B Hub Substation and integrated into the national grid. A power purchase agreement has been signed with the Authority.
Due to its proximity to the Kathmandu load center and its ability to generate 104 MW even during the high-demand winter months, the project is considered a key asset for Nepal’s energy sector. Completion is targeted for Feb 2027.
