The 37.5-megawatt Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat Hydropower Project in Raghuganga Rural Municipality of Myagdi district has commenced test production following the successful trial of major infrastructure components, including the dam, desander, and tunnel. Developed by Tudi Power Company Ltd., the project has started generating electricity on a trial basis and will connect to the national transmission grid after completing the testing phase, expected within 15 days, according to company representative Indra Dhakal.
The dam is located at Bandi in Ward 8 of the rural municipality. A desanding pond measuring 110 meters in length, 8 meters in height, and 30 meters in width has been constructed to remove sediment. Water is routed through a 5.3-kilometer tunnel and dropped into the powerhouse in Chimkhola via a 950-meter-long penstock pipe. The vertical drop from the tunnel’s outlet to the powerhouse is 360 meters, providing significant hydraulic head for power generation, as noted by residential engineer Prakash Timilsina.
Construction on the project began in Mangsir 2077 BS. Civil works were carried out by contractors Ramechhap Sherpa and South Asian Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., with tunneling operations conducted from four points. The hydromechanical works were completed by Machhapuchhre and BMEW Nepal, while Everest Hydro Electro Mechanical undertook the electromechanical installations.
A 220 kV transmission line, extending 14 kilometers and supported by 49 towers, has been completed to link the power station to the Tilkenichaur substation in Raghu Ganga-3. The electricity will be integrated into the Dana-Kushma transmission line using a loop-in loop-out (LILO) system, ensuring efficient grid connection.
This project is the first hydropower facility completed within the Rahughat River basin. Tudi Power is also developing the 48.5 MW Upper Rahughat Hydropower Project, which is in its final construction phase. Additionally, other hydropower initiatives in the basin—including the 40 MW Rahughat, 21.3 MW Thulokhola, and 22.3 MW Upper Thulokhola projects—are nearing completion, highlighting a broader regional push toward increased clean energy generation.
