Upper Tamakoshi CEO Appointment Confirmed
20th February 2026, Kathmandu
The energy landscape in Nepal has entered a new phase of leadership as Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited (UTKHPL) officially confirms the appointment of Purnagopal Ranjit as its Acting Chief Executive Officer. Following the 305th meeting of the Board of Directors held on February 1, 2026 (Magh 19, 2082), the company moved to fill the executive vacancy created by the retirement of former CEO Mohan Prasad Gautam. The appointment became effective the following day, February 2, 2026 (Magh 20, 2082). As the project head and a senior manager at the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Station, Ranjit’s promotion to the top executive role is seen as a strategic move to maintain operational continuity at Nepal’s largest hydroelectric facility. This transition is governed by the company’s internal regulations, specifically the Financial Administration Regulations 2065 and the Employee Administration Regulations 2067, which provide the framework for executive succession and acting appointments.
Upper Tamakoshi CEO Appointment
Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited is an autonomous company established in 2007 as a subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The 456 MW project, located in the Dolakha district, stands as a monument to Nepal’s domestic engineering and financial capabilities. Since its full commissioning in 2021, it has functioned as the backbone of the national grid, providing much-needed peaking power during the dry season. Managing such a complex asset requires a leader with deep technical roots and a thorough understanding of the NEA’s administrative ecosystem. Purnagopal Ranjit fits this profile perfectly, having dedicated nearly 25 years to the power sector in Nepal. His journey began in 2001 (2058 BS) as a Level 5 Supervisor at the Kavre Distribution Center, where he spent eight years mastering the fundamentals of electricity distribution and customer service.
The career trajectory of Purnagopal Ranjit serves as a blueprint for professional growth within Nepal’s state-owned enterprises. After his initial years in distribution, he transitioned into engineering and project management, progressively moving through Levels 6 to 10. His tenure at Upper Tamakoshi has seen him hold the critical position of Manager at the power plant site, where he was responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the station’s six Pelton turbines. His experience spans the entire spectrum of hydropower operations, including dam management, tunnel maintenance, and the oversight of the 47-kilometer-long 220 kV transmission line that connects the project to the Khimti substation. This hands-on experience is vital as the company navigates the upcoming construction phase of the Rolwaling Diversion project, which aims to increase the annual energy generation of the plant by adding more water to the intake pond.
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The retirement of Mohan Prasad Gautam marks the end of a significant chapter for the company. Gautam, who replaced long-serving CEO Bigyan Prasad Shrestha, was instrumental in stabilizing the company’s finances following the post-construction debt restructuring. During his tenure, he focused on improving the company’s profit margins and managing the high-interest rates on loans taken from domestic financial institutions like the Employees Provident Fund and the Citizen Investment Trust. As Purnagopal Ranjit takes the helm, he inherits these financial responsibilities, including the ongoing efforts to reduce interest costs and the management of the company’s equity through rights share issuances. The Chairman of the company, Kulman Ghising—who also serves as the Managing Director of the NEA—has expressed confidence that internal leadership transitions like this one ensure that the strategic goals of the power sector remain uncompromised.
From a corporate governance perspective, the appointment of an Acting CEO rather than an immediate permanent hire allows the Board of Directors time to conduct a formal search or evaluate the performance of internal candidates under pressure. In the interim, Ranjit will exercise full executive authority, overseeing the administrative, financial, and technical departments of the company. His immediate priorities will likely include the preparation for the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) and ensuring that the project maintains its high availability factor during the current dry season. With the Tamakoshi Fifth Project (99 MW) also in the planning stages as a cascade development, the Acting CEO’s technical expertise will be essential in coordinating the feasibility and infrastructure alignment between the two projects.
In conclusion, the appointment of Purnagopal Ranjit as the Acting CEO of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited represents a stable and technically sound choice for Nepal’s premier energy company. His rise from a field supervisor to the head of a multi-billion rupee enterprise is a testament to the institutional training and competitive promotion system within the Nepal Electricity Authority. As he leads the company through this transitional period starting Magh 20, 2082, the focus remains clear: maximizing power generation, ensuring financial sustainability, and completing the expansion projects that will secure Nepal’s energy future. For investors and the general public, this leadership change signals a continued commitment to professional management and operational excellence at the heart of Nepal’s hydropower sector.
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