Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limited

Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limited (SJCL) is a Nepali public limited company established in 2010 with the objective of harnessing Nepal's hydropower potential. It was promoted by Chilime Hydropower Company Limited (CHPCL), a hydropower developer in which the Nepal Electricity Authority has historically held a controlling interest. SJCL's mandate combines power generation with a strong emphasis on maximizing local community participation in project ownership and mobilizing local resources for project implementation. The company's core assets are two cascade hydroelectric projects in the Chilime Village area of Amachhodingmo Rural Municipality, Rasuwa District, roughly 160 km north of Kathmandu. The Sanjen (Upper) Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP) has a capacity of 14.8 MW, with its powerhouse at Simbu Village at an elevation of 2,187 metres. The Sanjen Hydroelectric Project (SHEP) has a capacity of 42.5 MW, with its powerhouse at Chilime Village at 1,745 metres. The headworks site is at Tiloche at 2,348.3 metres. SUHEP is a run-of-river scheme with a daily peaking facility of 1 hour and 10 minutes, an annual energy output of 82.44 GWh and a gross head of 161.3 metres. SHEP uses water directly from the tailrace of the upper scheme, adding 0.50 m³/s from Chhupchung Khola, and generates an annual energy output of 241.865 GWh from a gross head of 442 metres. The combined estimated project cost for the two projects is NPR 7,243,181,544 excluding financial costs. SJCL is headquartered on the 7th floor of Chilime Tower in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, and its chief executive officer is Mr. Arpan Bahadur Singh. The company contracted major civil, electromechanical, hydromechanical and transmission-line works to a mix of Nepali and international firms, including ECI Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd and Bajra Guru Construction Co. Pvt J/V, SEW-TUNDI J/V, Dongfang Electric International Corporation, Nepal Hydro & Electric Limited, and Mudbhary and Joshi Construction Pvt. Ltd. Both cascade projects have been completed, with the Department of Electricity Development issuing recognition letters for the completion of the 42.5 MW Sanjen project in July 2025 and the 14.8 MW Sanjen (Upper) project in July 2024. As a public limited company, SJCL represents a model of community- and promoter-backed hydropower development in Nepal, in which local residents are given the opportunity to participate in ownership of projects that use local water resources. Its output feeds into Nepal's national grid and contributes to the country's growing electricity supply.

Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limited (SJCL) was established in 2010 as a public limited company promoted by Chilime Hydropower Company Limited (CHPCL). Its founding objective was to harness Nepal's hydropower potential while maximizing local community participation in project ownership and mobilizing local resources for project implementation. The company was set up in response to the country's growing electricity demand. SJCL developed two hydroelectric projects in cascade in the Chilime Village area of Amachhodingmo Rural Municipality, Rasuwa District, approximately 160 km north of Kathmandu. The Sanjen (Upper) Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP) has a capacity of 14.8 MW, with its powerhouse at Simbu Village at an elevation of 2,187 metres. The Sanjen Hydroelectric Project (SHEP) has a capacity of 42.5 MW, with its powerhouse at Chilime Village at 1,745 metres. The headworks site is at Tiloche at 2,348.3 metres. SUHEP operates as a run-of-river scheme with a daily peaking facility of 1 hour and 10 minutes, generating an annual energy output of 82.44 GWh from a gross head of 161.3 metres, with a design discharge at Q40 of 11.07 m³/s. SHEP utilizes water directly from the tailrace of the upper scheme, adding 0.50 m³/s from Chhupchung Khola, and generates an annual energy output of 241.865 GWh from a gross head of 442 metres, with a design discharge of 11.57 m³/s. The combined estimated project cost for the two projects is NPR 7,243,181,544 excluding financial costs. Construction was carried out by a mix of Nepali and international contractors. Civil works for both projects were awarded to ECI Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd and Bajra Guru Construction Co. Pvt J/V (Lot 2, SUHEP) and SEW-TUNDI J/V (Lot 2, SHEP). Electromechanical works for both projects were contracted to Dongfang Electric International Corporation (Lot 3). Hydromechanical works for both projects went to Nepal Hydro & Electric Limited (Lot 4). Transmission line works were awarded to Mudbhary and Joshi Construction Pvt. Ltd (Lot 5). Both cascade projects have been completed. The Department of Electricity Development issued a recognition letter for the completion of the 42.5 MW Sanjen Hydroelectric Project on 18 July 2025, and for the completion of the 14.8 MW Sanjen (Upper) Hydroelectric Project on 16 July 2024. The company is headquartered on the 7th floor of Chilime Tower in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, and its chief executive officer is Mr. Arpan Bahadur Singh. SJCL continues to operate and maintain its generating assets and has issued procurement notices, such as a sealed quotation for property insurance of the Sanjen (Upper) Hydropower Station.

• 2025

  Department of Electricity Development issues recognition letter for completion of the 42.5 MW Sanjen Hydroelectric Project.

• 2024

  Department of Electricity Development issues recognition letter for completion of the 14.8 MW Sanjen (Upper) Hydroelectric Project.

• 2010

  Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limited established as a public limited company promoted by Chilime Hydropower Company Limited.

Community-participatory hydropower developer in Nepal, promoted by Chilime Hydropower Company Limited, focused on cascade run-of-river projects in Rasuwa District.

• Sanjen (Upper) Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP)

• Sanjen Hydroelectric Project (SHEP)

1. 1Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limited - SJCLsjcl.com.np
2. 2About Sanjen Jalavidyut - Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limitedsjcl.com.np
3. 3Contractor - Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limitedsjcl.com.np
4. 4Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limited - Wikidatawikidata.org