KATHMANDU, Sept 6: Established for electricity trade between Nepal and India, Dhalkebar substation in Nepal’s Dhanusha district has come into operation from Wednesday. It is the first interconnection between Nepal and India operating at the high voltage capacity of 220 kV. 

The substation, funded by the World Bank Group, has been set up as the main hub to receive electricity from India and transmit to load centers throughout the country. 

When excess electricity is available in Nepal’s power system, electricity generated from various hydropower plants will flow to this substation via the Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa transmission line that is currently under construction, according to a statement issued by the World Bank. 

Along with the operation of the Dhalkebar substation, Nepal will now have a network capacity from 132 kV to 220 kV voltage level. Works are ongoing to upgrade the substation to 400 kV. The substation is part of the World Bank-supported Nepal-India Electricity Transmission and Trade Project, which aims to establish a high voltage cross-border transmission link between India and Nepal of about 1,000 MW to facilitate electricity trade between the two countries. 

The World Bank has expected this substation to benefit electricity consumers, independent power producers in Nepal, and electricity consumers in India when they receive hydropower during the energy-surplus wet season in Nepal. 

Nepal currently generates 1,074 MW of electricity, far less than its estimated feasible potential of 40,000 MW and the national requirement of 1,508 MW. Increasing power demand has been resulting in peak shortages of about 450 MW. The substation will help import about 300 MW of electricity, covering most of the peak shortages in Nepal.

 
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