165Gwh/yr

Energy Generation

60MW

Installed Capacity

About

The Kulekhani Hydropower Project is Nepal’s only reservoir-based hydropower system, located on the Kulekhani River in Indrasarowar Rural Municipality, Makwanpur District, Bagmati Province. It comprises three plants—Kulekhani I (60 MW), Kulekhani II (32 MW), and Kulekhani III (14 MW)—totalling an installed capacity of 106 MW. Developed and operated by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the project uses water from the 114 m high Kulekhani Dam, which creates the Indra Sarobar Reservoir with a total storage capacity of 85.3 million m³. Kulekhani I, commissioned in 1982, is powered by two 30 MW Pelton turbines using a 550 m net head via a 5.8 km tunnel and 1.34 km penstock. Kulekhani II, a cascade plant, was commissioned in 1986. Kulekhani III, a 14 MW extension, faced commissioning delays beyond the planned 2015 COD. The US$117.84 million investment was co-financed by the World Bank, Kuwait Fund, UNDP, OECF (Japan), and the OPEC Fund. It operates under a public model, owned by NEA. This unique storage-based project enhances dry-season grid reliability and exemplifies multi-donor financing in Nepal’s hydropower development

Salient Features

Hydrology ( Intake )

Catchment Area 126km2
Design Discharge 12.1 m3/sec
Maximum Gross Head 550m

Head Works (Intake)

Diversion Height 114m
Diversion Length 406m

Waterways

Headrace Tunnel-Length 6,233m
Penstock- Length 1324m
Penstock-Diameter 2.0-1.5m

Turbine

Type Vertical Shaft Pelton
Number of Units 2
Rated Capacity 31 MW

Generators

Rated Capacity 35 MVA

Transformers

Number of Units 2 (35 MVA, 11/66 kV)
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Application for Survey License

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Survey License Approved

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Application for Generation License

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Under Construction

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Live

Location