KATHMANDU: The Chilime-Trishuli 220 kV transmission line has been completed, allowing electricity generated by current and future hydropower projects on the Trishuli River and its tributaries to be integrated into the national grid and exported to China.
This 28 km transmission line runs from the Chilime Hub Substation in Thambuchet, Amachodingmo Rural Municipality of Rasuwa, to the Trishuli 3B Hub Substation in Pahrebensi, Kispang Rural Municipality of Nuwakot.
Kulman Ghising, Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), noted that the transmission line was built during the public holidays of Dashain and Tihar, thanks to the dedication of employees and construction professionals.
Ghising explained that the infrastructure was established for electricity from several hydropower projects in Rasuwa, including the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi and 42.5 MW Sanjen projects, both developed by the NEA’s subsidiary, Chilime Hydro Project.
The Rasuwagadhi and Sanjen projects are now operational and generating power.
“Constructing the towers in challenging mountainous terrain was a significant task. We faced obstacles such as dense vegetation, transporting materials, and adverse weather conditions,” he said.
“Despite challenges from flooding, land use issues, and local obstacles, the successful completion of this project is a remarkable achievement.”
The Chilime-Kerung international transmission line is also being developed for electricity trade with neighboring China. The Chilime-Trishuli line will facilitate this connection.
The construction of the Chilime 220/132/33 kV and Trishuli 3B hub substations has been finalized under the Chilime-Trishuli project.
Electricity generated from the Trishuli 3B Hub Substation will be fed into the national grid via the Trishuli-Kathmandu 220 kV transmission line to Matatirtha in Kathmandu.
The Sanjen and Rasuwagadhi hydropower output will be integrated into the national system once the Chilime-Trishuli line is operational at the Chilime hub substation.
A total of 76 transmission towers have been constructed, ranging from 680 to 2600 meters above sea level, with 33 towers built in locations lacking road access. A new access road was also constructed to facilitate this work.
Tharka Bahadur Thapa, Director of the NEA’s High Voltage Grid Department, stated that over 20 kilometers of access roads have been created for the project.
He noted that construction materials and tools were transported using mules, men, and nine helicopters for two of the towers.
In a notable engineering achievement, a wire was stretched for 1,235 meters from Tiru in Uttargaya Rural Municipality to Siruchet, utilizing drones for the wire-pulling in the challenging Meilung Crossing area above Mailung Khola.
The Chilime-Meilung section features a 20 km double-circuit line and an 8 km multi-circuit line leading to the Trishuli 3B hub.
A multi-circuit line to connect the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 hydroelectric project is also planned, with Upper Trishuli-1 covering 60% of its construction costs.
The Chilime-Trishuli project, estimated to cost approximately US dollars 3.628 billion, is funded by the Government of Nepal, the NEA, a grant from the German Development Bank (KFW), and a concessional loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), established by the European Union.
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