Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Projectमाथिल्लो कर्णाली जलविद्युत आयोजना
A 900 MW peaking run-of-river export project on the Karnali River near the Dailekh/Surkhet/Achham tri-district area, developed by India's GMR Group with SJVN and IREDA. After ~18 years of delay, promoters secured joint financing in 2025 and GMR invited construction bids in July 2025, though final financial-management-plan approval remained pending. A prior 500 MW export PPA with Bangladesh was cancelled.
Installed capacity
900 MW
Peaking run-of-river
River / basin
Karnali
Karnali basin
Location
Dailekh / Surkhet / Achham
Karnali / Sudurpashchim
Expected online
2031
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.
- 2014
Project development agreement signed with GMR
- 2025
Joint financing secured; construction bids invited
- 2026Planned
Diversion / early works planned
- 2031Planned
Targeted completion
Location
Approximate dam-area location on OpenStreetMap — precise to the district and river reach, not the exact structure.
Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project: key facts
Quick answers on capacity, river, developer, status and commissioning, drawn from the sourced data above.
What is the capacity of the Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project?+
The Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project has an installed capacity of 900 MW. It is a peaking run-of-river hydropower scheme.
Which river is the Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project on?+
The project is on the Karnali River, part of Nepal's Karnali basin, in Dailekh / Surkhet / Achham district, Karnali / Sudurpashchim Province.
Who is developing the Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project?+
The Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project is developed by GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower Ltd (India) (foreign-funded), with GMR Energy, SJVN, IREDA (India); export-oriented.
What is the status of the Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project?+
As of mid-2026 the project is proposed / under development. Export project; joint financing secured 2025; construction tenders invited; early works pending final approvals
When is the Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project expected to be commissioned?+
The Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project is expected to be commissioned around 2031, though dates for projects under development frequently shift.
Sources & data note
Figures for Upper Karnali Hydroelectric 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.