Hydropower project in Hakuma, Rasuwa to provide 700 MW electricity

The Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, the largest in Rasuwa district, has accelerated its construction. Using the water of Trishuli river, 216 MW of electricity is being generated from the underground structure based on the land of Haku Pakha of Amachhodingmo Gaonpalika Ward No. 1 and Uttargaya Gaonpalika Ward No. 1.

         Electricity will be generated by supplying water to Malung Dobhan with the help of 9.7 km long tunnel by constructing a dam at Bhotekoshi at the end of Dhunche. Nepal Water and Energy Development Company has been moving ahead with the construction for two months after 10 years of preliminary study with the aim of completing the construction at a cost of Rs. 55 billion.

 The work of tunnel construction has been taken forward by completing the work including financial resource management, study of environment and geological condition, power purchase agreement with Nepal Electricity Authority, construction of housing and access road under external infrastructure. Giriraj Adhikari, technical director of the project, said that a 109-meter-long, 30.8-meter-wide and 29.5-meter-high dam, 6.7-meter-diameter and 9.7-kilometer-long headrace tunnel will be constructed at Bhotekoshi, the district headquarters. Under the tunnel construction, a 292 meter long penstock with a 90 degree slope shape and a 241 meter tailrace tunnel will be constructed.

 The technical team is moving ahead to complete the construction of the underground structure within the stipulated time by gradually managing even though it is uncomfortable to work in the narrow bagar area of ​​Bhotekoshi where most of the places are hilly, said the Director.

Features of the project

 The technician said that the entire structure is underground, hard rock and will not be affected by erosion and floods. The power house will have three turbines named Francis and will have a capacity of 72 MW per turbine.

     The Bhotekoshi and Lehende rivers coming from Tibet, Ghatrekhola of Timure in Nepali territory, Ronga, Langtang and Trishuli coming from Gosaikunda will collect water from the vertical valleys at Dhunche Puchar and the water of Trishuli from ancient times will be sufficient for power generation. Pandit Tanka Prasad Dhakal of Kalika-2 Dhaibung said that the development structures would be reliable as the river bank did not affect the riverside settlements even though there was a big flood in July 2018 BS.

Financial management

 Nepal Water and Energy Development Company has agreed to disburse 30 percent of its internal resources and 70 percent of the loans of nine foreign banks and financial institutions. Foreign banks and financial institutions lending for the construction of the project include IFC, ADB, AIIB, KEXIM, KDB (Korea Development Bank), FMO (Netherlands Development Bank), Proparcae (France Development Bank), CDC (UK Development Bank) and OP. ) Are.

Management of purchase and sale of electricity generated

 1.45 billion units of electricity will be generated annually. It is said that PPA agreement has been concluded with NEA for buying and selling at the rate of Rs. 8 and 40 paisa per unit in winter and Rs. 4 and 40 paisa in rainy season. The project has stated that the production will decrease by 50 percent during autumn, winter and winter due to the reduction in water flow due to freezing of water during snowfall. The structure of the project is targeted to be completed in five years. It is said that the principal and interest of the loan amount will be repaid gradually as per the agreement with the donor within 10 years after the commencement of production.

Facilitate project affected residents

  The project, which operates in the Haku area in the remote area of ​​Rasuwa, aims to gradually support social development by providing employment opportunities to the affected locals according to their ability. Priority has been given to employment, educational awareness, social work, religion and culture, protection of environment and biodiversity, facilitation of healthcare, promotion of sports, assistance in security and construction of infrastructure.

         The project has directly or indirectly provided employment to 150 locals of Haku area and about 15 people have got job opportunities according to their capacity. The project has been giving high priority to social contribution as soon as it has decided its scope of work. In order to increase the quality of education and build a bright future for the children of the affected areas, one teacher has been provided in each of the big and small Haku and Hakubensi schools since three years ago. In addition to completing the construction of the Haku Health Center building, financial assistance was provided to Gosaikunda, Amachhanedingmo, Kalika and Uttargaya villages in the past to control covid infection.

Traffic access

  Senior Environment and Social Officer Sanjeev Karki said that financial assistance has been provided for the construction of Bailey Bridge at Trishuli between Dhunche and Hakubensi, construction of Phulbari-Lamrang road, construction of 3 km footpath to Thulo Haku area, upgrading of Tiru road and construction of Dhunche-Khodal road.

           The project has also connected bridges at Dhunche Puchar Trishuli under Malung, Syafrubensi, Rasuwagadhi International Highway and facilitated the movement of truck containers carrying goods imported from Kerung. In the course of such assistance, financial assistance has been provided to Gosainkunda Fair Management, Sports Awakening, Komin of Syafruh, Buddhist monasteries in Hakubensi and Thangbu areas and land management and financial assistance for Haku Police Station of Nepal Police.

         It is said that financial assistance has been provided for the construction of a security post in Malung and a night helipad in Dhunches to help in the protection of Langtang National Park. In the past, fire control programs have been funded under the Conservation of Biodiversity.

Long term goal

 The project aims to increase the capacity by providing vocational training at the local level, electrify the affected areas without access to electricity, increase the capacity of forest conservation and make the forest green by promoting tree planting. A target has been set to run a special program for the upliftment of Adivasi Janajati worth Rs. 110 million for the locals. The project has stated that special programs for the upliftment of the tribes will be conducted through the Adivasi Janajati Advisory Council.

  Dozens of hydropower projects are under construction on the banks of rivers and streams in the district utilizing the wasted water resources. The first 22 MW Chilime Hydropower Project constructed in the district has started generating electricity on September 26, 2008. Initially, the capacity was 20 MW, but after a few years, the equipment has been improved and increased to 2 MW, according to the Chilime Hydropower Station.

          It is stated that the construction has been completed at a cost of Rs. It is said that the eight-year loan has been repaid in four years after the Chilime Hydropower Station started producing. The technicians working at the Chilime Hydropower Project had started the construction of the power project in Rasuwagadhi and Sangjen areas as well.

          Currently, construction of Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project (111 MW) through Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Company and Upper Sanjen Hydropower Project (14.8 MW) and Lower Sanjen Hydropower Project (42.5 MW capacity) through Sanjen Hydropower Company has reached the final stage. The entire structure of Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project is underground and Sanjen Project is semi-underground. The Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Company has stated that the work of connecting the equipment is in full swing recently. Similarly, the equipment connection process of Sanjen Hydropower Project has also moved ahead.

           Apart from Rasuwagadhi, the construction of 120 MW Bhotekoshi power project near Ronga has been going on since last year. Similarly, Langtang Khola 20, Super Sangjen 73, Upper Malung 14, Super Malung 6 and Falakhu Khola 14 are under construction. Dhunche's 6 MW capacity hydropower is said to be in process.

 Similarly, NEA has been generating 60 MW of electricity from the Trishuli water in Dandagaun area through the Upper Trishuli III Hydropower Station constructed since last year. At the confluence of the Malung River, the Malung Hydropower Station has already generated five megawatts of electricity in 2071 BS. All the power projects under construction and under construction in the district (except 20 MW of Langtang river) are outside the jurisdiction of Langtang National Park. Chairman of the civil society Babulal Tamang said that the employment provided directly or indirectly at the local level under the project has facilitated the livelihood to some extent.