A day after severe flooding in the Bhotekoshi River damaged several hydropower projects, energy-related companies dominated the top gainers list at the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) on Wednesday.
Of the top 20 performing stocks, 12 were hydropower producers, reflecting heightened investor activity in the energy sector. Barun Hydropower Co Ltd led the rally, gaining 6.21 percent in market value, followed closely by Panchakanya Mai Hydropower, which rose 4.28 percent.
The sudden surge comes despite alarming reports from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) on Tuesday, which confirmed that hydropower projects with a combined generation capacity of 250 megawatts had sustained major damages due to flooding. Among the worst hit were the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, whose headworks were completely destroyed, and Trishuli-3A, Devighat, and the privately-owned Upper Mailung Tadi Project, all located along the Trishuli corridor.
Market momentum remained strong across the board, with 199 companies closing higher in Wednesday’s intraday trading session. Apart from hydropower, commercial banks and microfinance companies were also among the high gainers, further fueling optimism in the secondary market.
The sharp rise in hydropower stocks following disaster-related setbacks signals strong investor confidence in the sector’s long-term viability, despite the immediate operational disruptions.
