Chilime Hydropower Company Limited (CHCL), a subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), is making significant progress on the 120 MW Madhya Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project (MBHP) in Sindhupalchowk district, aiming to begin electricity production within the next month.
An agreement has been reached with local residents regarding the construction of a two-kilometer section of the transmission line that connects the project’s switchyard in Bahrabise Municipality to the NEA’s Bahrabise substation. Wire pulling for the 220 kV single circuit transmission lines is currently underway and is expected to be completed before Dashain.
On August 29, a crucial meeting was held with key officials, including Energy Minister Dipak Khadka and NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising. They addressed the long-standing delay in constructing the transmission line, which had been blocked for about 14 months. The construction of the dam area is finished, and initial water testing has been conducted.
The main tunnel was built and tested from mid-February to mid-March last year, with repairs completed following a water leak issue. Currently, the tunnel is being cleaned, and plans to resume water pouring will commence in about 15 days.
Civil construction at the powerhouse has also been completed, and installation and testing of electromechanical equipment are in progress. A ‘wet test’ will start as soon as water flows through the tunnel. The remaining tasks are expected to be finalized within a month, with the goal of initiating electricity generation.
State Minister Purna Bahadur Tamang and NEA officials recently visited the site, urging project teams to expedite their work to meet the electricity production timeline. Once generation begins, the Bharabise substations will draw from this electricity, as the construction of the 220/132 kV Bharabise substations is already complete.
A temporary solution has been established for delivering MBHP’s electricity. The 220 kV transmission line will be converted to 132 kV at the Bahrabise substation, allowing power flow. This will utilize a 132 kV line constructed by Shiva Shree Hydropower to connect to the Bahrabise substation, with completion aimed for before Dashain.
Electricity from MBHP will integrate into the national grid through the Lamosangu Substation. This temporary arrangement will remain until the Khimti-Bahrabise or Bahrabise-Kathmandu transmission lines are completed, after which electricity will flow through those lines. Various challenges, including landslides, earthquakes, border issues, flooding, and the COVID-19 pandemic, have affected the project’s progress.
The estimated cost of the project, excluding interest during construction, is Rs 12.28 billion, funded equally through equity and loans. The NEA holds a 10% stake, while CHCL owns 37%. Other shareholders include local hydropower companies and community investors.
The project is expected to generate 542 million units of electricity annually, with the NEA purchasing electricity at Rs 8.40 per unit in winter and Rs 4.80 per unit in monsoon, resulting in an estimated annual revenue of Rs 2.8 billion.
