West Seti Hydro

History

SMEC Developments Pty Ltd, a member of the SMEC Group from Australia, is the promoter of the West Seti hydroelectric project.

SMEC has a long and distinguished record in the design of major hydropower projects having its origins in Australia’s Snowy Mountains Scheme, one of the civil engineering wonders of the modern world.

Built between 1949 and 1974, the purpose of the Scheme was to divert the rivers of south eastern Australia towards the west to provide water for irrigation and to generate peak load electricity for the states of New South Wales and Victoria.

The Snowy Scheme created sixteen dams, seven power stations generating 3756 MW and one pumping station, over 144 kilometres of tunnels, 80 kilometres of aqueducts and 1000 kilometres of roads.

SMEC was created in 1970 as a Government-owned business to capture the expertise associated with the Snowy Scheme. SMEC was privatised in 1993 and is now owned by its staff.

SMEC has a long and continuous history of involvement in Nepal beginning in the mid -1960’s, including the following projects:

  • The first study of the Karnali (Chisapani) Project: 1968.
  • Gandaki River Basin Study (Central Nepal); 1977 – 1979
  • Marsyandi Hydroelectric Project; 1978 – 1982 and 1986 – 1990
  • Greater Kathmandu Drainage Master Plan Study; 1989 – 1990
  • Greater Kathmandu Water Supply Project (Melamchi); 1990 – 1992
  • Project Formation Report for District Road; 1991
  • Flood Damage Assessment Project: 1993
  • Design and Supervision of Mechanical Training Programme, Department of Roads: 1995 - 1998
  • Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project: 1995 - 1999
  • Road Maintenance and Development Project: 1998 - 2005
  • West Seti Hydroelectric Project: 1994 to date

Background to the West Seti Hydro Project

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