National Hydro Power Company Limited (NHPC) was established with the objective of developing small hydropower projects in Nepal. Initially NHPC was set up as a joint venture Company formed by Nepali owners and Lyse Kraft AS of Norway to develop its firs hydro project, the 7,500 kW Indrawati-III, in Sindhupalchowk District, in Central Nepal. NHPC has been commercially operating the Indrawati III Hydro Power Project since 1999. The national utility of Nepal, Nepal Electricity Authority, is the off taker of the energy produced by this Project.