KATHMANDU, MARCH 10

Chilime Jal Vidhyut, a subsidiary of Nepal Electricity Authority, has reported that the construction progress of the 102 MW Mid-Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project, being constructed in Sindhupalchowk has reached 95 per cent.

The project is now in its final phase of construction and is expected to be completed by the end of June.

The main structures of the project, including the dam and sand settling pond, have been completed, along with the headworks. The current focus is on protection work in the headworks area. Additionally, the excavation work of the 7.2-km main tunnel has been completed, and the concrete lining work is currently in progress.

Following the completion of the main civil works of the power plant, the installation of turbines, generators, and control room equipment is currently under way.

Moreover, the construction of the towers for the 220 kV transmission line, which spans approximately four kilometres from the power station to the Barhabise substation, has been completed, but the strings are yet to be pulled.

The Mid-Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project faced numerous obstacles during its construction timeline due to the natural calamity and poor performance of the Chinese company Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau.

A team led by the Managing Director of the authority, Kulman Ghising, had inspected the construction site and gathered information about the progress of the project. They also instructed the contractor to expedite the remaining work so that it is completed within the next four months.

Ghising has expressed satisfaction with the current progress of the project, despite earlier setbacks.

To avoid any additional costs, the civil and hydromechanical works of the project have been contracted to the Chinese company Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model. Meanwhile, Andritz Hydro has been tasked with the electro-mechanical work.

The estimated cost of the project was Rs 12.28 billion, excluding the interest, when the loan agreement was signed with the Employees' Provident Fund. The updated estimated cost of the project is Rs 15.32 billion, excluding interest. Of the total initial cost of the project, 50 per cent had been raised from equity and 50 per cent through debt.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 11, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.