MYAGDI, March 15: Electricity generated by the 22.5 MW Upper Thulokhola Hydropower Project has been connected to the national transmission system.
The project, built by Thulokhola Hydropower Limited in Ward 7 of Raghuganga Rural Municipality, completed construction of its physical infrastructure, installation of equipment, and internal testing before linking power to the national grid.
Project chief Shiv Sagar Yadav said electricity from the project started being sent to the central system for testing from 6 pm on March 13.
He said the electricity was connected to the national grid after five days of testing carried out in the presence of a technical team from the Nepal Electricity Authority.
Upper Mai linked to national power grid
“Commercial production will begin about 15 days after the testing phase is completed,” Yadav said.
During the current dry season, the project is producing about 13.86 MW of electricity.
The dam, powerhouse, pipelines, transmission line, and electrical equipment have been installed and internal testing has been completed, allowing the project to begin trial generation.
Construction of the project started in 2023. The site lies in a remote and difficult terrain.
The dam and desander basin were built at Sugurthala. A 2,900-meter main pipeline and a 300-meter surge shaft pipeline were installed, while the powerhouse was constructed at Fedi. The powerhouse contains two turbine units and a switchyard has been built within the facility, according to engineer Sanjeev Neupane.
The project follows a run of river design.
A six-kilometer transmission line with a capacity of 132 kV has been built between Fedi and Bandi with 14 towers. From Bandi, the project is connected to the national system through the 220 kV Dana Khurkot Transmission Line via Tilkenichaur, in coordination with other hydropower projects including Thulokhola and Chimkhola Rahughat Mangale.
The transmission line distance from Fedi to Tilkenichaur is about 23.5 kilometers.
The project’s estimated cost stands at Rs 5.14 billion. Around 70 percent of the investment has been provided as loans by Citizens Bank International, Machhapuchchhre Bank, and Agricultural Development Bank. Promoters have invested 10 percent, while the remaining 20 percent will be raised by issuing shares to the public.
Transporting equipment for the powerhouse, transmission line, and switchyard had faced delays earlier after the road linking the project site with Beni was disrupted due to road upgrades during April and May and a landslide at Malang during the monsoon.
Several hydropower projects have already been developed in the Rahughat river basin and its tributaries.
The 35.5 MW Chimkhola Rahughat Mangale Hydropower Project and the 48.5 MW Upper Rahughat Hydropower Project are already in operation.
Another project on the Thulokhola river, the 21.3 MW Thulokhola Hydropower Project developed by Sanyukta Urja Limited, began commercial electricity production in September last year.
Meanwhile, the 40 MW Rahughat Hydropower Project promoted by Raghuganga Hydropower Company, a subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority, is in the final phase of construction.
