Kathmandu, November 4 : The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has said that the start test generation of the Kulekhani III cascade hydropower project will begin from January next year as per its revised plan.
According to the initial plan, the 14-megawatt project should have commenced electricity generation from 2012. However, it did not happen because of the problems related to the project contractor as well as the frequent aberrations in policy along with change in government.
Previously, the construction cost of the project was estimated to stand around just Rs 2.43 billion but after the prolonged delays the same could reach a colossal Rs five billion. The initial estimate had also put the production cost per megawatt power at Rs 173.6 million but, as per the revised estimate, it will now cost above Rs 310 million per megawatt.
The contractor-Chinese company named Jheijiang Jialin, is dillydallying to complete the works related to electromechanics and hydromechanics. And, it is a major responsible cause for the unwarranted delays in the project completion. According to the NEA officials, they are exerting due pressure on the contractor by even approaching the Chinese embassy for the timely execution of the required works.
The Kulekhani III hydropower project is located at Indrasarobar Rural Municipality in Makawanpur district.
Currently, Kulekhani I reservoir project has been producing 60 megawatts of energy while Kulekhani II, a cascade hydro project, generates 32 megawatts of power.
