Kathmandu, April 17 -- The Nepal Electricity Authority commissioned six medium and small hydropower projects and one solar plant in the first nine months of this fiscal year, adding 41 MW to the national grid. All these hydel and solar projects that came into commercial operation were developed by independent power producers, according to the records of the state-owned power utility.

The electricity authority expects to launch another nine projects this fiscal year ending mid-July and add 160 MW to the grid. This will bring the number of independent power producer-owned projects in operation to 82 from 75 last year, accounting for a combined installed capacity of 554 MW.

"The projects under construction are making substantial progress, ...