Hydropower Projects
Bijayapur-1 Small Hydropower Project
Kaski
Bijayapur-I Small Hydropower Project is a 4.5 MW run-of-river (RoR) hydropower plant located in Pokhara Lekhnath Municipality, Kaski District, Gandaki Province, Nepal. The project utilizes water from the Bijayapur Khola and nearby irrigation drainage. It has a gross head of 68 meters and a rated design head of 65.4 meters with a design discharge of 8.3 m³/s. The project features a stone-lined free-flow weir with a crest elevation at 752 m, side intake with coarse racks, and a 242-meter RCC closed headrace canal. Water is conveyed through a 634-meter mild steel welded ribbed penstock pipe with 206 supports. The powerhouse is a surface type measuring 23 m by 11 m, housing two horizontal shaft Francis turbines. Annual energy generation is approximately 29.33 GWh. Power is evacuated via a 4 km, 33 kV single circuit transmission line to NEA’s 132 kV Lekhnath Substation. The project was commissioned in Bhadra 2069 BS (~August 2012 AD) and sells power under a seasonal tariff of Rs 4.80/kWh in the wet season and Rs 8.40/kWh in the dry season. The total project cost at commissioning was NPR 80 crore.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2012-08-21
- Installed Capacity : 4.5MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-River
Upper Madi Hydropower Project
Kaski
The Upper Madi Hydropower Project is a 25 MW run-of-river facility located on the Madi River in Kaski District, Gandaki Province, Nepal. Developed by Madi Power Pvt. Ltd., a Nepalese independent power producer, the project commenced commercial operation on 9 Kartik 2073 BS (October 25, 2016). It utilizes a gross head of 124.09 meters and a design flow of 23.84 m³/s, with an average annual energy generation of approximately 140.5 GWh, including 21.4 GWh in the dry season and 119 GWh in the wet season.
Key infrastructure includes a free-flow diversion weir with a crest elevation of 936.2 m, a 4.5 m diameter circular headrace tunnel of 3.92 km, a restricted orifice surge shaft (45 m high), and a surface powerhouse equipped with two vertical-axis Francis turbines. Power is evacuated via an 11.5 km, 132 kV transmission line connected to the national grid.
Financed through a joint investment of China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE) and Nepali stakeholders, the project follows a private sector-led development model. It has implemented local benefit-sharing initiatives, including road, irrigation, and health infrastructure. Under Nepal’s hydropower licensing framework, ownership will transfer to the government upon license expiry.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2017-01-09
- Installed Capacity : 25MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run of River
Upper Mai Hydroelectric Project
Illam
The Upper Mai Hydropower Project is a 12 MW run-of-river facility located in Mabu and Maimajhuwa, Sandakpur Rural Municipality, Ilam District, eastern Nepal. Developed and operated by Panchakanya Mai Hydropower Limited, it began commercial operation in June 2016. The project utilizes the Mai Khola river with a catchment area of 53 km². Key infrastructure includes a 12-meter concrete gravity diversion weir, a 2,075-meter inverted D-shaped headrace tunnel, a 1,576-meter penstock pipe of 1.2 meters diameter, and a surface powerhouse housing two 6 MW Pelton turbines with brushless synchronous generators. Electricity is transmitted through an 18.5 km, 132 kV line to the Godak Substation, connecting to the national grid. The project generates approximately 55.9 GWh annually under a Power Purchase Agreement with the Nepal Electricity Authority.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2016-06-23
- Installed Capacity : 12MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-River
Mai Hydropower Project
Illam
The Mai Hydropower Project is a 22 MW run-of-the-river project developed by Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited in Ilam District, Province 1, Nepal. The project harnesses the flow of the Mai Khola, a tributary of the Kankai Mai River, and has been in commercial operation since February 26, 2015. The facility operates with three 7.33 MW vertical-axis Francis turbines and generates an average of 128.298 GWh annually.
The project features a gross head of 121.5 m and a design flow of 23.43 m³/s. Key infrastructure includes a concrete gravity ogee dam, a 2,198 m headrace tunnel, 1,055.7 m of pressurized culvert, a surge tank, and a 316.4 m steel penstock. Power is transmitted via a 132 kV transmission line, 11.6 km in length, to the national grid.
Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited is a public company listed on the Nepal Stock Exchange (ticker: SHPC). The project reflects a private sector-led initiative and is part of a broader cascading hydropower development model in the region. It represents a successful example of independent power production in Nepal.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2015-01-28
- Installed Capacity : 22MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-River
Phawa khola Hydropower Project
Taplejung
The Phawa Khola Hydropower Project is a 5 MW run-of-the-river hydropower plant located in Taplejung District, Province 1, Nepal. The project utilizes the Phawa Khola and began commercial operation on 9 Jestha 2073 BS (approximately May 23, 2016). Developed and operated by Shibani Hydropower Company (P) Ltd., the plant comprises two horizontal-axis Pelton turbines and features a 4,357 m headrace pipe and a 479 m long, 1.1 m diameter steel-lined penstock.
The design flow ranges from 2.52 to 2.60 m³/s based on exceedance probabilities, and the plant connects to the national grid via an 8 km, 33 kV single-circuit transmission line to the Amarpur substation. The project includes a gravity diversion weir, gravel trap, and PLC-controlled inlet valve system. Though exact annual energy generation is not specified, the facility is expected to contribute significantly to renewable energy supply and economic development in the Taplejung region.
The project was constructed over a period of 2 years and 8 months and operates under a license valid until 2102 BS, after which it will be transferred to the government.
- Issue Date: 2010-10-05
- Installed Capacity : 5MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-River
Charnawati Khola Hydroelectric Project
Mati, Dolakha
The Charnawati Khola Hydroelectric Project is a 3.52 MW run-of-the-river hydropower plant located in Bhimeshwor Municipality (Wards 8, 9 & 11), Dolakha District, Bagmati Province, Nepal. Developed by Nepal Hydro Developer Limited—a subsidiary of the Hydro Solutions Group—the project began commercial operation on June 7, 2013 (24 Jestha 2070 BS).
The plant draws water from the Charnawati Khola, a tributary of the Tamakoshi River, with a catchment area of approximately 75.7 km². It utilizes two Pelton-type turbines, driven by a design flow of 2.19 m³/s and a gross head of 199 m, and generates approximately 20.38 GWh of electricity annually. Water is diverted through a 13 km headrace tunnel and a 2,959 m long penstock.
Electricity is transmitted via an 11 km, 33 kV line to the NEA’s Makaibari substation. The project features a gravity diversion weir and synchronous generators, contributing to Nepal’s rural electrification and local energy security. The Charnawati basin stretches up to 7,555 m elevation, marking it as a high-altitude hydro catchment area.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2013-06-07
- Installed Capacity : 3.52MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-river
Jiri Khola Small Hydropower Project
Dolakha
The Jiri Khola Small Hydropower Station is a 2.4 MW run-of-river hydropower project located in Dolakha District, Bagmati Province, Nepal. It utilizes the flow of Jiri Khola, a tributary of the Sun Koshi River. The project commenced commercial operations on May 23, 2015 (9 Jestha 2071 BS) and is owned and operated by Bojini Company (P.) Ltd. Water is diverted through a 137.5-meter headrace tunnel and conveyed via a penstock approximately 2,800 meters in length to a surface powerhouse located near the tailwater area. The generated electricity is connected to Nepal’s national grid and sold under a Power Purchase Agreement with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The generation license is valid until November 2025 (16 Kartik 2102 BS), after which the project will transfer ownership to the government under a BOOT model. Typical annual energy generation for such a plant ranges between 10 and 15 GWh. Sediment management uses standard run-of-river desanding and trash rake systems. The project is included in the Nepal Water Resources Mapping program and NEA’s 2019/20 hydropower data.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2015-02-13
- Installed Capacity : 2.4MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-River
Radhi Small hydropower Project
Lamjung
The Radhi Small Hydropower Project is a 4.4 MW run-of-river plant located on the Radhi Khola in Lamjung District, Nepal. Owned and operated by Radhi Bidyut Company Ltd, a publicly listed company, the project started commercial operations on June 14, 2014 (31 Jestha 2071 BS). It utilizes a significant gross head of 617 meters, channeling water through a 714.8-meter headrace canal and a 1,025-meter mild steel penstock to drive two Pelton turbine-generator units housed in a surface powerhouse. The project benefits from a settling basin with two chambers designed to trap particles of 0.20 mm and larger. Electricity generated is transmitted via a 33 kV line to the Chiplabesi substation in Lamjung. The project operates under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), with tariffs set at NPR 7.84/kWh for dry season and NPR 4.48/kWh for wet season. Despite a temporary halt due to flood and landslide damage in June 2023, the project plays an important role in local power supply and is ISO 9001:2015 certified for operation and maintenance.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2014-06-14
- Installed Capacity : 4.4MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-River
Tadi Khola hydropower Project
Nuwakot
The Tadi Khola Hydroelectric Project is a 5 MW run-of-river project located in Nuwakot District, Central Development Region, Nepal. Developed by Mountain Energy Nepal Ltd., the project harnesses the Tadi Khola river with a gross head of 74.12 meters and a design discharge of 8.91 m³/s. It features a boulder-riprap weir with RCC cutoffs at an elevation of 798.50 masl, and uses a side intake structure with two 3.2 m × 2.4 m openings. The project includes an approach canal, desanding basin, and a forebay to manage sediment before water is diverted through a surface powerhouse.
Commissioned in FY 2069 BS, the project generates a total of 32.48 GWh annually (7.13 GWh in dry season and 25.34 GWh in wet season). The powerhouse is located in Tadi Rural Municipality-3, with transmission connection to the national grid via NEA. The catchment area at the intake site is approximately 247 km². This project contributes to Nepal’s mid-scale hydropower sector with stable operation and proven performance over time.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2002-01-23
- Installed Capacity : 5MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-River
Upper Marsyangdi A
Khudi, Lamjung
The Upper Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project is a 50 MW run-of-river hydropower plant situated on the Marshyangdi River in Bhulbhule VDC, Lamjung District, Gandaki Province, Nepal. It is a flagship foreign direct investment (FDI) project jointly developed by Power China Resources Ltd. (90%) and Sagarmatha Power Company Nepal (10%) under the entity Sinohydro–Sagarmatha Power Company. The plant uses two 25 MW Francis turbines and features a vortex settling basin and a ~5 km headrace tunnel. It was commissioned in two phases—September and December 2016—and is designed to generate approximately 317 GWh of electricity annually.
Power is evacuated through a 132 kV single-circuit transmission line of about 20–25 km, connecting to the Middle Marsyangdi substation. The project was financed with support from China Eximbank (70% debt) and 30% equity, with a total investment of USD 165.9 million. The PPA with NEA was signed at a tariff of USD 0.05999/kWh. It is considered a milestone in Nepal-China infrastructure collaboration and plays a key role in the Marsyangdi cascade development strategy.
- Commercial Operation Date : 2016-11-15
- Installed Capacity : 50MW
- Phase : Live
- Type : Run-of-river