A 45-MW Bhote Koshi Hydropower Project – located at Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality in Sindhupalchowk – has started power generation from today.
Though the hydel project had been commissioning energy since January 2001, it was closed after the April 25, 2015 devastating earthquake and floods and then again landslides, which had completely damaged the project.
“The hydropower started test generation after completing renovation of structures damaged by the floods, though it took 20 months to reconstruct damaged structures,” according to general manager of Bhote Koshi Power Company Bikram Ratna Sthapit. “The project started test generation at 12 noon today,” he said, adding that electricity generated by the project has been connected to the national grid. “The project will begin commercial generation after completion of 15-day test generation.”
The hydel plant got permission to start test generation after Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) completed examining our structures and plant," he added. “The NEA officials studied the project for eight days before giving the permission.”
There is a provision in Power Development Agreement (PDA) that NEA needs to first test any project before it starts commercial production. “The plant is running to its full capacity as water flow in the river falls during winter months," Sthapit added. The plant is currently producing 22 MW to 25 MW due to low water flow currently. Water flow in Bhote Koshi River starts increasing from mid-March thus from mid-July, the project will operate to its full capacity.
The reconstruction work of the Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower project was completed by a Chinese company Sino Hydro’s Bureau 11 at a cost of about Rs 7 billion, according to the project. The floods had submerged the project's dam located in 10 Kilo area and deposited huge boulders and debris which also damaged other head works. A majority of the works including civil, hydroelectrical and hydromechanical works was done by Sino Hydro while works related to installation of turbine and generator were handled by an American company named Francis Turbine.
The hydel project was first hit by the devastating earthquake of 2015. Likewise, floods struck the project site when 80 per cent of post-quake reconstruction completed, the project informed, adding that it lost nearly 60 per cent of the cost due to the earthquakes and floods. “The project cost has climbed to Rs 17 billion, up from the estimated Rs 10 billion.”
Before the 2015 earthquakes, landslide of Jure had also damaged transmission line of the project which halted power generation for nearly six months. Earthquake struck the project again four months after it had repaired the transmission line. The project has been losing $ 22-24 million revenue annually due to delay, Sthapit added.
Though the hydel project had been commissioning energy since January 2001, it was closed after the April 25, 2015 devastating earthquake and floods and then again landslides, which had completely damaged the project.
“The hydropower started test generation after completing renovation of structures damaged by the floods, though it took 20 months to reconstruct damaged structures,” according to general manager of Bhote Koshi Power Company Bikram Ratna Sthapit. “The project started test generation at 12 noon today,” he said, adding that electricity generated by the project has been connected to the national grid. “The project will begin commercial generation after completion of 15-day test generation.”
The hydel plant got permission to start test generation after Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) completed examining our structures and plant," he added. “The NEA officials studied the project for eight days before giving the permission.”
There is a provision in Power Development Agreement (PDA) that NEA needs to first test any project before it starts commercial production. “The plant is running to its full capacity as water flow in the river falls during winter months," Sthapit added. The plant is currently producing 22 MW to 25 MW due to low water flow currently. Water flow in Bhote Koshi River starts increasing from mid-March thus from mid-July, the project will operate to its full capacity.
The reconstruction work of the Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower project was completed by a Chinese company Sino Hydro’s Bureau 11 at a cost of about Rs 7 billion, according to the project. The floods had submerged the project's dam located in 10 Kilo area and deposited huge boulders and debris which also damaged other head works. A majority of the works including civil, hydroelectrical and hydromechanical works was done by Sino Hydro while works related to installation of turbine and generator were handled by an American company named Francis Turbine.
The hydel project was first hit by the devastating earthquake of 2015. Likewise, floods struck the project site when 80 per cent of post-quake reconstruction completed, the project informed, adding that it lost nearly 60 per cent of the cost due to the earthquakes and floods. “The project cost has climbed to Rs 17 billion, up from the estimated Rs 10 billion.”
Before the 2015 earthquakes, landslide of Jure had also damaged transmission line of the project which halted power generation for nearly six months. Earthquake struck the project again four months after it had repaired the transmission line. The project has been losing $ 22-24 million revenue annually due to delay, Sthapit added.
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