The process of constructing electricity substations has begun in Chhaila of Baragung Muktikshetra–3 and Charang of Lomanthang Damodarkunda Rural Municipality–1 in Mustang district.
The Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA) Nawalpur Rural Electrification and Chhaila/Charang (Mustang) 33 kV Transmission Line and Substation Project has initiated work on two substations in these areas.
The construction process moved forward following the initiative of Lomanthang Damodarkunda Rural Municipality Chairperson Lopsang Chhomfel Bista. On Thursday, Bista, along with project representatives and construction company officials, conducted on-site inspections and surveys of the substation sites in Chhaila and Charang.
Project Chief Bimal Raj Raut said that an Indian construction company, Devyans, in collaboration with Nepal’s Bisan Construction under the Devyans–Bisan Joint Venture, has signed a contract worth Rs 380 million for the project. The contract was signed last year with the objective of fully electrifying Mustang district.
Although the NEA initiated the substation construction process a year ago, Raut said it took around 11 months to complete all tender procedures. As per the agreement, the two 33 kV substations with a capacity of three MVA each in Chhaila and Charang are scheduled to be completed within 15 months.
The substations are being constructed about 103 kilometers away from the central transmission line substation at Kowang in Thasang–2. Raut said the projects are located at an altitude of around 3,800 meters and require special high-altitude designs, which has increased the overall cost compared to standard substations.
He added that the substations are being designed to operate smoothly even during snowfall, with a detailed project report (DPR) prepared specifically for high-altitude conditions. Raut expressed confidence that once completed, the substations will ease electricity supply problems and improve voltage stability in the region.
Chairperson Bista said Mustang has long faced electricity supply problems due to having only one 33 kV substation in Thasang. He noted that the construction of new substations was initiated through the combined efforts of local governments and concerned stakeholders to provide a long-term solution.
Bista added that he has been urging NEA officials and construction companies to expedite the work. He expressed confidence that the new substations will not only resolve electricity shortages but also support tourism, agriculture, and industrial development in Mustang.
Earlier, under the same project, the expansion of the electricity transmission line from Kowang in Mustang to Charang of Lomanthang Damodarkunda–1 had begun. The transmission line project, which has a contract period of two years, has achieved 95 percent physical progress so far, according to construction company representative Navaraj Kadariya, though some delays occurred due to site-related issues.
