Construction process of semi-reservoir Kimathanka Arun Hydropower Project begins

KATHMANDU, Dec 24: The construction process to build Kimathanka Arun Hydroelectricity Project has begun. 

The 454-MW semi-reservoir type project is based in Sankhuwasabha district. The Power Production Company under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has expedited the process for the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the project.

Kimathanka Arun Hydro Electric Project (KAHEP) is PRoR Project lies on the northernmost of Arun River at Kimathanka, Sankhuwasabha district. Proposed KAHEP utilizes the water from Arun River which is a snow-fed river originating from Yebokanjilala Glacier on Mount Xixabangma, Tibet at 8012M ASL. 

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Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)'s subsidiary NEA Engineering Company has been working as the consultant of this project. The project is located near Chhumsur village at Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-2. 

The Arun river is known as the 'hydro hub' in view of the several hydropower projects being developed in this river. 

According to the Company, a dam would be constructed across the Arun river. It will be 140 meters high from the foundation and 70 meters high from the river surface. The river water would be accumulated to form a lake covering an area of 0.350 kilometers square and holding 10.3 million cubic meters of water. The powerhouse would be built at Pungmuchhi, some 500 meters below Liham village.

Around 5,918 meters long underground headrace tunnel with a diameter of eight meters would be constructed. The design flow of water is about 143 cubic meters per second. Total head of about 379.52 meters would be used.

The project will generate around 2,655.12 gigawatts per hour of power annually.

The Indian company, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) is developing the 900 MW capacity Arun III project in the Arun river itself. Similarly, the same company has taken up the responsibility of constructing the Lower Arun Hydropower Project. NEA and SJVN are also jointly undertaking the Arun IV Hydropower Project.