홍수 덮친 네팔 수력발전소 현장에 두산·남동발전 인력 왜?

On the 26th, a catastrophic flood struck Nepal, disrupting communications with nine Korean employees employed by two South Korean firms, Daejang Enercity and South Dong Power. These workers were engaged in the construction of the Upper Trisuli-1 (UT-1) hydropower plant, which was targeted for completion by the end of the year. The plant, spearheaded by Korean companies, aimed to alleviate Nepal's power supply shortage through an extensive hydropower project.

Daejang Enercity oversaw the plant's operation and maintenance post-completion, while Daejang Enercity handled the plant's construction. The UT-1 hydropower plant was situated in the northern Trisuli and Tisauri Rivers, approximately 70 kilometers from Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital. Utilizing water from the Himalayan mountain range, the plant employed a reservoir-based system, unlike traditional dam-style hydroelectric plants.

With an installed capacity of 216 megawatts and a total investment of $64.7 million, the plant was projected to supply around 20% of Nepal's total power generation capacity once completed. Daejang Enercity joined the project in 2011 alongside IFC, marking its first venture into southern Asia and the first joint venture between an international company and a domestic enterprise in a developing country.

Following this, the project was managed by the local company, NWEDC, and Daejang Enercity committed to operating the plant for 27 years after completion. Daejang Enercity took responsibility for the design, procurement, and construction of the plant, while Daejang Enercity was in charge of supplying key equipment such as turbines and generators.

Daejang Enercity entered into an EPC contract with NWEDC in 2020, with a contract value of $365 million (approximately 4037 billion KRW). As of the second half of 2026, the UT-1 project's progress stood at 68.39%, with a completion deadline of December 30th of this year. Among the nine unreachable workers, six were from Daejang Enercity and three from South Dong Power.

Daejang Enercity confirmed that five of the 15 Korean workers present on-site at the time of the incident were unreachable, although an additional Korean worker was later found. South Dong Power's three absent workers were responsible for construction management duties, while the Daejang Enercity employees handled construction-site-related tasks.

Daejang Enercity established a local emergency headquarters and dispatched a team of eight individuals, including Chairman Yeon In, to Nepal for search and rescue and family support following the incident. The company representatives informed the families of the unreachable workers and provided a separate waiting area at the Daejang Tower for those who wished to return.