KATHMANDU: The construction of three hydropower projects in Rasuwa, led by Chilime Hydropower, a subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has been successfully completed.
The projects have collectively added 168 MW of electricity to the national transmission system, as reported by the Authority.
All three projects are now connected to the national grid via the 220/132/33 KV substation established by the NEA at Thambuchet, Amachhodingmo Rural Municipality in Rasuwa.
The completed projects include the 14.8 MW Upper Sanjen, the 42.5 MW Sanjen, and the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi hydropower plants.
The Upper Sanjen project was completed last year and has begun commercial operations, generating approximately Rs 300 million in electricity sales to date.
The 42.5 MW Sanjen Hydropower Project has also completed construction and started trial production on the national transmission line as of Friday.
Meanwhile, the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project is currently in trial production.
Once it meets the required standards, commercial operations for both Sanjen and Rasuwagadhi are expected to commence within this month.
Due to seasonal river flow, these three projects will generate around 80 MW of electricity during the winter months.
Chilime Hydropower Company has initiated four projects totaling 270 MW, with three now completed, leaving the 102 MW Madhya Bhotekoshi project still under construction in Sindhupalchowk.
The construction of these projects faced significant challenges, including damage from the devastating earthquake of 2015, subsequent aftershocks, floods, and landslides.
Additional hurdles included weak geological conditions, transportation difficulties for construction materials and fuel due to the Madhesh movement, seasonal flooding, ongoing landslides on access roads, the COVID-19 pandemic, and border closures affecting imports.
Kulman Ghising, Executive Director of the NEA, highlighted the successful completion of the Chilime projects, which had experienced numerous delays.
“During my tenure as Managing Director of Chilime Company, we advanced the construction of all four projects simultaneously with public investment. Although external circumstances prolonged the timeline, we have now successfully completed three projects, contributing to the electricity supply in the Kathmandu Valley, where demand is high,” Ghising stated.
He acknowledged that the earthquake, economic blockade, currency devaluation, extended construction periods due to loan interest rates, and rising administrative costs have led to increased project costs.
The estimated expense for the Upper Sanjen and Sanjen projects is Rs 7.35 billion, excluding interest during construction.
Arpan Bahadur Singh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sanjen Hydropower Company, indicated that the total estimated cost of the projects is now Rs 9.20 billion, also excluding interest.
He noted that this translates to approximately Rs 225 million per megawatt.
The Employees Provident Fund has provided financing for all four Chilime projects.
Ownership is distributed among the Chilime Hydropower Company (39.36%), the NEA (10.36%), and local Rasuwa entities (1.28%).
Additionally, 49% of ordinary shares are held by employees of the Provident Fund and founding organizations, project-affected residents of Rasuwa, and the general public.
The Upper Sanjen and Sanjen projects are expected to generate 1.8 billion units of electricity annually.
The Upper Sanjen can operate at full capacity for 70 minutes during peak demand hours in the evening.
To enhance evening electricity generation during winter, a peaking pond has been constructed for water storage.
CEO Singh emphasized that this will aid in balancing the electricity system during high-demand periods.
Comment