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Hydropower Projects

mai khola

Khimti 1 Hydropower Project

Sahure,Hawa (Dolakha) Betali (Ramechhap)

Khimti I Hydropower Plant is built with private sector funding as a “BOOT” agreement (Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer) with GON. Construction commenced on 26th June 1996 and Commercial Operation commenced on 11th July 2000. Himal Power Limited operates the plant and sells electricity to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The plant will be transferred to GON at the end of the 50 year license period. At the end of the first Power Purchase Agreement NEA will purchase a 50% share in the Khimti Power Plant for a nominal fee. The Khimti I Hydropower Project site is located in the Janakpur Zone, Central Development Region, some 100 km east of the Kathmandu. Khimti Khola forms the boundary between Ramechhap and Dolakha Districts. Access to the site is by the existing Jiri road 175 kilometres from Kathmandu.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 2000-07-11
  • Installed Capacity : 60MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Run-of-River
mai khola

Devighat Hydropower Station

Battar, Nuwakot

Devighat Hydropower Station was founded in 1984 and is currently located at Bidur Municipality in Nuwakot, Nepal. It is considered a cascade project of Trishuli Hydropower. Trishuli river is one of the longest rivers which rises from Himalaya Tibet. Since it is a speedy river, it can generate a large amount of energy. Trishuli Hydropower itself was funded by the Indian Government and generated 21000 KW of electricity. Since the Trishuli river has higher possibilities to generate extra units of electricity, it became the primary source of the river for the Devighat Hydropower station. This project was manipulated by the governments of India and Nepal with the project costing NPR 750 million. The plant was underperforming after the completion of construction. Therefore, in 2011 these two countries started their rehabilitation to achieve efficiency of the plant. Finally, Hydropower generated 14.1 MW of electricity in a year. There is still some underperformance during the dry season because the Trishuli river’s flows get slower during that time. Lower water speeds can not generate electricity as it is capable. There are three units and one of them used to be problematic until 2011 rehabilitation. After all, all three units are in normal condition and performing well. So then, Hydropower capacity increased by 41.76% from 2010 to 2012.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 1984-12-01
  • Installed Capacity : 14.1MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Cascade of Trishuli Hydro Power Station
mai khola

Sunkoshi Hydropower Station

Sindhupalchok

Sunkoshi Hydropower station, located at 81 km east from Kathmandu, in Sindhupalchowk district, is a run-of-river daily pondage power station with an installed capacity of 10.05 MW and annual design generation of 70 GWh. This station has 3 units of 3.35 MW each. The powerhouse was commissioned in January 1972 with a friendly cooperation of the Water Conservancy and Electric Power Ministry of the People’s Republic of China and Government of Nepal. The cost of the project was approximately NRs. 109.4 million including transmission line up to Kathmandu. The cumulative generation of the station has reached 2,027.46 GWh in 2011/12 from the first run. The station has generated 60.36 GWh in FY 2010/11 and 66.38 GWh in FY 2011/12 with an increase of 9.99%. The station has a share of 1.59% of the total energy in the INPS in 2011/12. The power station has continuously performed well augmented by favorable hydrological condition and prudent operating practices. The station went on to put a record generation of 66.38 GWh in 2011/12. The rehabilitation of switchgear and protection system along with the governor and excitation system carried out few years back has significantly reduced the outage hours in recent years.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 1972-04-13
  • Installed Capacity : 10.05MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Run-of River
mai khola

Tinau Hydropower

Dovan, Palpa

Tinau was commissioned in 1978 near Butwal, but was recommissioned in 1983 after repair of flood damage. The project features two 250-kW turbine-generators, a 500-kW unit, a 2.4-kilometer tunnel, underground desilting chamber, and powerhouse.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 1981-04-13
  • Installed Capacity : 1.024MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Run-of- River
mai khola

Seti Hydropower Project

Nadipur, Pokhara

Seti Hydropower Station is a run of river type with installed capacity of 1.5 MW and design generation of 9.8 GWh consisting of 3 units each 0.5 MW. It is located at Nadipur, Pokhara and was commissioned in 1985 AD with assistance from Government of People’s Republic of China and Government of Nepal. The power canal for this power station is jointly used for irrigation purposes looked after by Department of Irrigation and hence, the operation of this power station is affected by irrigation as well. The cumulative generation of Seti HPS has reached 254.77 GWh till 2011/12 from its first run. The station has generated 11.62 GWh in FY 2010/11 and 10.41 GWh in FY 2011/12 with decrease of 10.37%. The station contributed 0.25% of the total energy in the INPS in 2011/12.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 1985-11-01
  • Installed Capacity : 1.5MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Run-of-River
mai khola

Marsyangdi Hydropower Station

Tanahu

Marsyangdi Hydropower Station is a peaking run-of-river power station with an installed capacity of 69 MW with three units of 23 MW each and its annual design generation is 462.5 GWh. It is located at Aanbu Khaireni, Tanahun in the central region about 114 km west of Kathmandu on Prithivi Highway and lies on the right bank of Marsyangdi River. It was commissioned in 1989 AD and developed with the assistance from IDA, KFW, KFED, SFD, ADB and GON at a cost of USD 22 million.

The generation from this power station contributed 10.67 % of the total energy to the INPS.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 1989-11-05
  • Installed Capacity : 69MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Peaking Run-of-River
mai khola

Kulekhani 1 Hydropower Station

Dhorsing, Makwanpur

Kulekhani-I, located at Dhorsing, Makwanpur, is the only reservoir type hydropower station in Nepal with installed capacity is 60MW having two units each of capacity 30 MW. This station was designed as a peaking power station but it is often operated to the system requirements for voltage improvement & system stability. The annual designed energy generation capacity is 165GWh as primary energy and 46 GWh as secondary energy. This project was constructed with the financial assistance of World Bank, The Kuwait Fund, OPEC Fund, the UNDP & the Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF) of Japan & Government of Nepal. The total project cost was US$ 117.843 million and accordingly the project was transferred to NEA with a capital cost of approximately NRs. 1,550 million. The tele-metering system installed for the measurement of rainfall, water level etc. cost around NRs. 137.4 million. The cost of road check dams and inclined tunnel is about 23 crores. Its first unit was commissioned on 14th May 1982 and the power station was inaugurated on 8th December 1982 (B.S. 2039-Marga-23). In 1994, an overhauling work of the power station was performed with the grant assistance of Japan.

The generation from this power station contributed 6.09% of the total energy to the INPS. The maximum and minimum water-level of the Kulekhani reservoir in FY 2010/11 was recorded as 1521.34 masl and 1495.22 masl and in FY 2011/12 was recorded as 1530.38 masl and 1497.33 masl.

  • Commercial Operation Date : 1982-05-04
  • Installed Capacity : 60MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Storage
mai khola

Trishuli Hydropower Station

Trishuli, Nuwakot

Trishuli Hydropower Station, located at Trishuli, Nuwakot, previously with an installed capacity of 21 MW consisting of 7 units each of 3 MW commissioned in 1967 AD and developed jointly by Government of India and Government of Nepal at a cost of INR 140 million. It was rehabilitated in 1995 AD and upgraded to 24 MW with 6 units each of 3.5 MW and one unit of 3 MW. It is a peaking run-of-river hydropower station with annual design generation of 163 GWh. The power station is in continuous operation since commissioned around forty-five (45) years ago. The cumulative generation of Trishuli HPS has reached 4,449.31 GWh till 2011/12 from its first run. The station has generated 128.25 GWh in FY 2010/11 and 134.77 GWh in FY 2011/12 with an increase of 5.09%. The generation from this station contributed 3.23 % of the total energy in the INPS in 2011/12.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 1967-04-14
  • Installed Capacity : 24MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Peaking Run-of River
mai khola

Gandak Hydropower Station

Surajpura, Nawalparasi

Gandak Hydropower Station, located at Surajpura, Nawalparasi having installed capacity of 15 MW and annual design generation of 106.38 GWh was commissioned in 1979 AD and developed in assistance from Government of India and Government of Nepal with the total cost of NRs. 170 million. The project is initially developed with the dual purpose of hydropower and downstream irrigation in Uttar Pradesh, India. The station is canal drop type and the first low head (6.09m) power plant in Nepal. The weir is regulated by the Bihar State Government and the canal is shut down twice in a year for regular repair and maintenance. The operation of this power station is hence, affected by irrigation in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 1979-04-01
  • Installed Capacity : 15MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Canal Drop
mai khola

Panauti Hydropower Station

Panauti, Khopasi

Panauti Hydropower Station is run of river hydropower plant and is located at Khopasi, Panauti, 35 km east of Kathmandu with installed capacity of 2.4 MW and annual design generation of 6.97 GWh. It was commissioned in 1965 AD and developed jointly by Soviet Union Government and GON at a cost of NRs. 27 million. The station was initially developed with the dual purpose of hydropower generation and irrigation in the vicinity. However, the water in the canal in the recent years has also been used for drinking purposes as well. The cumulative generation of the station has reached 121.16 GWh till 2011/12 from its first run. The station has generated 2.73 GWh in FY 2010/11 and 1.28 GWh in FY 2011/12 with a decrease of 53.09%. The power station contributed only 0.03% of energy in INPS in 2011/12.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 1965-04-13
  • Installed Capacity : 2.4MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Run-of-River
mai khola

Tatopani Small Hydropower Project

Annapurna, Myagdi

  • Commercial Operation Date : 1988-04-13
  • Installed Capacity : 2MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Run-of-River
mai khola

Kulekhani II Hydropower Station

Bhainse, Makawanpur

Kulekhani-II Hydropower Station, located at Nibuwatar, Makwanpur, is a cascade of Kulekhani-I with the installed capacity of 32 MW and annual design generation of 104.6 GWh. It was commissioned in 1986 AD and developed in assistance from OCEF Japan and Government of Nepal at a cost of NRs. 124 million. The Plant has faithfully cascaded the generation of Kulekhani-I while also boosted with water intake from Mandu and Rapti pumping. Every year Mandu intake is cleaned after the wet season to allow the filtered water to the intake pond. A survey was carried out to explore the possibility of the addition of Mandu and Rapti in an extensive scale such that one unit could run while Kulekhani-I is not operated for storage of water.
  • Commercial Operation Date : 1986-11-01
  • Installed Capacity : 32MW
  • Phase : Live
  • Type : Cascade of Kulekhani I