Betan Karnali Hydropower Projectबेतन कर्णाली
A 439 MW semi-reservoir project on the Karnali, with a planned ~140 m dam straddling Surkhet and Achham and a large storage reservoir. Led by the Employees Provident Fund, it received its generation licence in 2025 and Investment Board Nepal approval, with the power purchase agreement in its final stage.
Installed capacity
439 MW
Storage
River / basin
Karnali
Karnali basin
Location
Surkhet
Karnali
Expected online
TBD
Proposed / under development
Milestones & projected timeline
Key dates so far, with planned milestones marked. Future dates are targets from the developer or government and frequently shift.
- Jul 2025
Generation licence granted by the Ministry of Energy
- 2025
Investment Board Nepal approves ~Rs 93.40 billion; PPA reaches final stage
Location
Approximate dam-area location on OpenStreetMap — precise to the district and river reach, not the exact structure.
Betan Karnali Hydropower Project: key facts
Quick answers on capacity, river, developer, status and commissioning, drawn from the sourced data above.
What is the capacity of the Betan Karnali Hydropower Project?+
The Betan Karnali Hydropower Project has an installed capacity of 439 MW. It is a storage hydropower scheme.
Which river is the Betan Karnali Hydropower Project on?+
The project is on the Karnali River, part of Nepal's Karnali basin, in Surkhet district, Karnali Province.
Who is developing the Betan Karnali Hydropower Project?+
The Betan Karnali Hydropower Project is developed by Employees Provident Fund (EPF)-led (government (nea)).
What is the status of the Betan Karnali Hydropower Project?+
As of mid-2026 the project is proposed / under development. Semi-reservoir; generation licence granted 2025, PPA in final stage
Sources & data note
Figures for Betan Karnali Hydropower Project are compiled from the sources below and cross-checked where possible. Status and projected dates reflect research as of mid-2026 and may change as the project progresses. The map location is an approximate dam-area estimate. Commentary is Amarnepal's own.