{{Short description|Norwegian engineer and missionary (1927–2023)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Odd Hoftun | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|12|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Ål, Norway | death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|3|15|1927|12|27|df=y}} | death_place = | monuments = | nationality = | other_names = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Engineer, missionary | years_active = | employer = | organization = | agent = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | television = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | awards = Royal Norwegian Order of Merit }}
'''Odd Hoftun''' (27 December 1927 – 15 March 2023) was a Norwegian engineer and missionary.
==Biography== Hoftun was born in Ål to power station operator Erik Hoftun and schoolteacher Martha Indergaard. He was educated as electrical engineer from the Norwegian Institute of Technology, and subsequently worked at {{ill|Tafjord Kraftselskap|no|Tafjord Kraft}} and ''Drammen’s elektrisitetsverk'' (electric power plant).<ref name=nbl/> From 1958 to 1995 he worked in Nepal, sent by HimalPartner. Hoftun's first assignment was to lead the construction of a Mission hospital in Tansen, for United Mission to Nepal (UMN). During the construction of the hospital Hoftun found that there was a lack of skilled workers in Nepal and he became the driving force establishing a vocational training centre in Butwal called Butwal Technical Institute (BTI), that opened in 1963.
Hoftun was further a pioneer and key person in the early development of hydropower in Nepal, through ''Butwal Power Company Ltd.'', ''Himal Hydro Ltd.'', and ''Nepal Hydro and Electric (P) Ltd.''<ref>{{Cite web| last = Shrestha| first = Bhola| title = The energy to do it ourselves {{!}} Nepali Times Buzz |publisher= Nepali Times| accessdate = 6 August 2020| url = https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/Power-for-Nepal-review,2884}}</ref> all initiated by Hoftun under UMN.
Hoftun was instrumental in the design, development and construction of Tinau Hydropower Plant, not far from Butwal. The power plant is the first run-of-the-river plant in Nepal. Walking the distance from Butwal to Tansen during the construction of Tansen Mission Hospital, he thought of the possibility to develop a watering channel and a tunnel for power. The idea materialized as the Andhi Khola Hydropower Station. The community project which was developed around it received the United Nations Blue Planet Prize in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sureis |date=6 January 2016 |title=THT 10 YEARS AGO: Andhikhola power plant bags Blue Planet prize |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/tht-10-years-ago-andhikhola-power-plant-bags-blue-planet-prize |access-date=16 March 2023 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en}}</ref>
Hoftun was also important in the development of Jhimruk Khola Hydropower Station and the Khimti I Hydropower Plant.
Hoftun received several decorations from the King of Nepal, and was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit in 1990.<ref name="snl">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Odd Hoftun |first=Tormod |last=Engelsviken |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |editor-last=Bolstad | editor-first=Erik | editor-link= |publisher=Norsk nettleksikon |location=Oslo |url=https://snl.no/Odd_Hoftun |language=Norwegian |accessdate=4 August 2018}}</ref><ref name="nbl">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Odd Hoftun |encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Einar |last=Kippenes |authorlink= |editor=Helle, Knut|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |location=Oslo |url=https://nbl.snl.no/Odd_Hoftun | language=Norwegian |accessdate=4 August 2018}}</ref>
Hoftun died on 15 March 2023, at the age of 95.<ref>{{cite web |title=Misjonær Odd Hoftun er død, 95 år gammel |first1=Jor Hjulstad |last1=Tvedt |first2=Morten Marius |last2=Larsen |first3=Marit |last3=Mjølsneset |date=15 March 2023 |url=https://www.vl.no/religion/2023/03/15/misjonaer-odd-hoftun-er-dod-95-ar-gammel/ |website=vl.no |language=no |access-date=16 March 2023 }}</ref>
==Selected works== *''Fjellandet Nepal'' (1963)
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoftun, Odd Hoftun}} Category:1927 births Category:2023 deaths Category:People from Ål Category:20th-century Norwegian engineers Category:Norwegian Institute of Technology alumni Category:Norwegian missionaries Category:Expatriates in Nepal Category:Norwegian expatriates Category:People from Butwal