41 MW to be added to national grid by mid-September

Published On: June 20, 2019 11:19 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

The powerhouse of the under-construction Singati Hydroelectricity Project in Dolakha. Photo: Ramesh Khatiwada/Republica

Three projects of northern Dolakha are starting commercial generation before Dashain festival

DOLAKHA, June 20: Three of six hydropower projects being developed by the private sector in northern Dolakha are starting generation before Dashain festival i.e. mid-September.

These projects will add a combined 41 MW to the national grid.

Department of Electricity Development has issued license to 21 projects in Singati and surrounding areas of northern Dolakha.

Singati Hydro Energy Pvt Ltd, which is developing Singati Hydroelectricity Project (25 MW), has said that the project would start generation by mid-September. “We will start trial production from mid-August. All the works are on the last leg,” Project Engineer of Singati Hydro Energy Pvt Ltd Ramesh Subedi said.

The project is based in Siris Ghari in Kalinchowk Rural Municipality Ward 3. Waters of Sorung River is being diverted to the powerhouse through a 5,607-meter tunnel to rotate two turbines of 12.5 MW capacity each. Power generated by the project will be connected to a local substation of Nepal Electricity Authority, according to Subedi.

The project had initially expected to start generation by mid-July.

Meanwhile, another project of 11-megawatt capacity, which is under construction at Suridoban of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-5, is starting commercial generation from mid-August. The project is being developed by Universal Power Company with an investment of Rs 2.04 billion. Project engineer Ganesh Gautam told Republica that most of the works have already been completed. “Only small workers like clearing the sites are remaining,” he added.

The project will divert water of Khare River in Chankhu of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-6 to the powerhouse through 3,325-meter penstock pipe. According to Gautam, construction of 15 pylons to evacuate power generated by the project is nearing completion.

Also nearing completion is a 5-megawatt Ghatte River Hydroelectricity Project in Marbu of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-7. Site In-charge of the project, Om Gurung, stated that project will begin trial generation later this month. The project is being developed by Manakamana Engineering Hydropower with an investment of Rs 1.15 billion.

According to Gurung, the project will divert water from Ghatte River to the powerhouse in Thumbuphedi through a 3,200-meter penstock pipe.

Three more other hydropower projects -- Khanikhola I (40 MW), Khanikhola (30 MW) and Suri River (1 MW) -- are under construction in Gaurishankar Rural Municipality.

Though different hydropower projects are under construction in northern Dolakha, work on a substation at Singati and transmission line between Singati and Lamosanghu is moving on at snail’s pace. Developers say they won’t be able to evacuate power generated by their projects if the transmission line is not completed on time.