TANAHU: The ongoing construction of the 140-megawatt Tanahu Hydroelectricity Project marked a significant milestone as its headrace tunnel saw a breakthrough.
Utilizing water from the Seti River bordering Rhishing Rural Municipality and Byas Municipality-5 in Tanahu, this reservoir-based project is making strides in its development.
The tunnel breakthrough, part of Package-2 of the project, spans an impressive 1,493 meters from its intake point, with a diameter of 7.4 meters and concrete lining.
This infrastructure will facilitate the collection of water in an underground powerhouse via a 213-meter penstock.
The detonation for the tunnel breakthrough was initiated jointly by Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), and Gopal Prasad Sigdel, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation.
Expressing satisfaction with the project’s progress, Secretary Sigdel urged all stakeholders to ensure the timely construction of the main dam site.
NEA Managing Director Ghising emphasized the importance of reservoir-based projects in balancing power demand and supply, particularly during dry seasons. He called for cooperation from all parties to ensure the project’s timely completion.
Updates on the project’s progress and challenges were provided by Kiran Kumar Shrestha, Managing Director of Tanahu Hydropower, and Shyamji Bhandari, the Project’s acting chief.
The Tanahu Hydropower Project, developed in three packages, has achieved a commendable physical progress of 54 percent to date. Overall construction is expected to conclude by mid-July 2026.
Under Package-1, groundwork is in progress for the foundation of the main dam site and the construction of a temporary concrete dam approximately 40 meters tall, which will redirect river water during the dam construction phase.
With an estimated total cost of US dollars 505 million, the project’s funding is sourced from various entities, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the European Investment Bank, and the Nepal Government/NEA.
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