The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has expressed concern over the progress of the Marsyangdi Corridor transmission line after receiving complaints that the completed projects could not be connected to the central transmission system.
A team including NEA executive director has inspected the transmission line and substation and got information about the latest situation.
Construction of four substations under the Marsyangdi Corridor Transmission Line Project with a total capacity of 220 KV is in full swing. Under the project, 220 KV substations are being constructed in New Bharatpur of Chitwan, Udipur of Lamjung and Khudi and Dharapani of Manang.
According to NEA, work is underway to complete the construction of new Bharatpur and Udipur substations within three months. Similarly, construction of Khudi substation is targeted to be completed within a year while construction of Dharapani substation has started. Due to its geographically remote location, the construction of Dharapani substation will take some time.
The new Bharatpur and Udipur substations will have power transformers of 220/132 KV, 320 MVA and 220/132 KV, 160 MVA and 132/33 KV, 50 MVA capacity respectively. The construction of the main civil structure of both the substations has reached the final stage and the equipment is being connected.
Khudi and Dharapani substations will have 220/132 KV, 160 MVA and 132/33 KV, 50 MVA and 220/132 KV, 100 MVA and 132 ÷ 33 KV, 30 MVA capacity power transformers respectively. The main civil structures of Khudi substation are under construction. A high management team led by NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising has carried out detailed discussions with the project management, consultants and construction businessmen about the progress being made in the construction of the substation, problems seen at the project site and work completion schedule.
Executive Director Ghising urged to complete the transmission line and substation on time as it is important for the flow of electricity of the private sector hydropower project under construction in Marsyangdi Corridor. He directed the project management to expedite the approval process for forest use and tree felling in the forest area and to start construction of transmission line by resolving social issues.
He said that he was ready to take necessary initiatives and coordination at the upper level for this. The Dordi corridor of the hydropower project under construction on Dordi river in Lamjung will be connected to Udipur substation through transmission line.
As the construction of Udipur substation will take some time, the electricity of Dordi Khola project will be connected to the switchyard of Madhyamrsyangdi power house which is currently in operation through alternative arrangement.
The power will be connected to the substation of the hydropower project under construction at Ngadi and its tributaries in Lamjung. The Marsyangdi Corridor 220 KV transmission line project has been started for the flow of electricity generated in Marsyangdi and its tributaries to the national transmission system.
About 1,600 MW of electricity will be able to flow from the transmission line.
The length of double circuit transmission line from Bharatpur of Chitwan to Dharapani of Manang is about 113 kilometers. The project is being divided into three packages.
Under the first package, about 67 kilometers of transmission line is being constructed from Udipur to the new Bharatpur substation. New Bharatpur and Udipur substations are under construction under the second package.
Under the third package, 46 km transmission line and two substations are being constructed from Khudi to Dharapani. The estimated cost of the project under construction is about Rs. 16 billion with the investment of Government of Nepal and concessional loan from European Investment Bank (EIB).
