Solu Corridor transmission line completed

Construction of Solu Corridor 132 KV Double Circuit Transmission Line Project has been completed as soon as the work of erecting the tower and laying wires at Maruwa in Katari Municipality-4 of Udayapur was completed on Saturday.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Executive Director Kulman Ghising said that the transmission line, which was yet to be completed due to various problems, would be charged and brought into operation within a month.

"The construction of the transmission line has been hampered. The work has been halted despite an interim order from the court. The construction has been completed due to continuous efforts and unwavering assignment of NEA and project staff," said Ghising. He went on to how the power supply in the area will be reliable and quality and also the power leakage will be reduced.

Construction of 132/33 and 33/11 KV substations at Tinla in Solukhumbu has been completed and charged. At the same time, electricity is being supplied to the area from Lahan of Siraha and now the electricity generated in the Solu river will be used for local consumption.

The Solu Corridor Transmission Line has been constructed to distribute the electricity generated from the Solukhumbu and surrounding hydropower projects in Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga and Udayapur and connect it to the remaining national grid.

The 23.5 MW Solu River Hydropower Project will be connected after the transmission line comes into operation. NEA has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) of 325 MW with 12 hydropower projects in the area after the construction of this transmission line.

Project Chief Janardan Gautam said that there were many problems and obstacles in the construction of the Solu Corridor transmission line project. There was an obstruction in Maruwa, Katari Municipality-4 of Udayapur for two years demanding relocation of the transmission line. He mentioned that the obstruction has been removed and the project has been completed with the help of all.

The project was delayed for almost two years due to a dispute between the Government of Nepal and NEA over investment and a concessional loan from the Exim Bank of India. A contract agreement was signed with the Indian company Mohan Energy in April for the construction of the transmission line.