TANAHUN, March 15: The widespread outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected the construction work at Tanahun Hydropower Project. According to the project officials, the construction of the tunnel has been affected as Chinese workers who had gone back home to celebrate the Chinese New Year are not able to return to Nepal.

According to Bidur Adhikari, vice manager of the project, the Chinese company Sino Hydro Corporation had started the work to excavate cable tunnel under the second package but the lack of Chinese workers has affected further works. “Chinese workers and technicians who went to celebrate the  Chinese New Year have still not returned,” said Adhikari.        

The project had hired 20 Chinese workers for the tunnel work. “15 Chinese technicians went to China to celebrate the Chinese New Year but the outbreak of the coronavirus has affected their return,” said Adhikari. Two Chinese workers who had returned after celebrating the Chinese New Year were kept in quarantine for two weeks. 

According to the project officials, although the work has not stopped completely, required materials for the construction work cannot be imported from China at the moment. The progress of the work is likely to be affected as the widespread outbreak of coronavirus continues to hamper smooth supply of the materials. Currently, Sino Hydro Corporation is constructing the cable tunnel under the second package of the project. Under the second package, Sino is constructing two types of tunnel, power house and will install hydro and electro mechanical equipment.

The hydropower project has investments of Rs 180.4 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Rs 150 million from the Asian Development Bank, Rs 180.8 million from European investment and Rs 87 million from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). 

 
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