📝 Nepal China inks hydro power projects

From UPSC perspective, following things are important:

🔘 Prelims level: Not much

🔘 Mains level:
The article shows increased activities of China in Nepal. These activities are strategically important for India. But to be honest, it is just an FYI card. Read it and forget it!

🔴 What: 

Nepal has signed an agreement with a Chinese company to build the largest hydroelectric(1,200 megawatt Budhi-Gandaki) plant in the country

🔘 Chinese company:  the China Gezhouba Group Corporation(CGGC)

🔘 Estimates put the project cost at $2.5 billion
Energy producing capacity of Nepal.

🔘 Water-rich Nepal has a mountain river system that could make it an energy-producing powerhouse
But instead it imports much of its electricity from India.

🔘 According to experts, Nepal could generate 83,000 megawatts, but its total installed generation capacity currently stands at less than 2% of that
Current projects of CGGC in Nepal.

🔘 The CGGC is currently building three smaller hydropower plants in Nepal and has completed another one.

🔘 But critics have complained that the projects have consistently run over time and over budget.

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