Upper Tamakoshi in final stage of testing, target of 76 MW power generation from Monday

KATHMANDU, June 30: The final phase of testing to generate electricity from the first unit of the under-construction Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project in Bigu Rural Municipality of Dolakha is in full swing. The project is scheduled to start generating electricity from the first unit of the 456 MW project with 6 units each of 76 MW starting on Monday. After generating electricity from the first unit, electricity will be generated from the remaining units.

A team comprising managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) who is also the chairman of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited, Hitendra Dev Shakya, Prime Minister's Development Expert Gajendra Thapaliya monitored the project construction site on Sunday and Monday and set the schedule of power generation from the first unit from Monday. 

The team monitored the equipment being tested at the powerhouse, the dam site, the new Khimti substation under-construction at Khimti in Ramechhap and discussed with the officials involved in the construction. "We have brought the project, which has been facing various problems, to the point of generating electricity through continuous efforts. All the tests have reached the final stage. We will start power generation from the first unit by switching on Monday morning without any technical problems," said Hitendra Dev Shakya. 

All types of tests on reservoirs and sand dredging ponds, dams, civil structures including intakes and all kinds of hydro mechanical equipment like gates, staples connected there have been successfully completed. The first unit is being tested at the powerhouse. The electricity generated from the project will be connected to the national grid through the Gongar-Khimti-Dhalkebar 220 kV transmission line. For this, the construction of the transmission line has been completed and the line is being tested.

The 76 km Khimti-Dhalkebar transmission line is being tested. The new Khimti substation of 220 KV that is under-construction in Khimti is being tested. "As it will take a few days to test the substation, alternative arrangements will be made to connect the project's electricity to the New Khimti substation and connect it directly to the Dhalkebar substation," Shakya said. "We have made the necessary arrangements for this."