Nepal

140-MW Tanahun Hydro Project invites int'l tenders for dam construction

140-MW Tanahun Hydro Project invites int'l tenders for dam construction

By Madan Wagle

A view of 140-Megawatt Tanahun Hydro Project's dam construction site at Patan in Byas Municipality-7 of Tanahun district, on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Photo: Madan Wagle/THT

DAMAULI: After terminating contract agreement with Italian CMC Company, Tanahun Hydro Project has called for new international tenders for the construction of the project's dam. According to the project's communication officer, Sachin Gautam, new international tenders have been invited for dam construction of the 140-megawatt hydel project, on Thursday. 'The deadline for submitting tenders is June 09, 2019,' Gautam added. In the first phase of the construction, soft loans from the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank will be mobilised. Pradeep Kumar Theke, Managing Director of the project, said, 'Interested parties can submit their applications consolidating both technical and financial proposals as per the ADB procurement directives.' We are planning to finalise the contractor by October and start construction of the dam in December, Theke shared. The second phase of construction -- including tunnel, procurement of hydromechanicals, electromechanical equipment installation and other tasks -- was carried out by China Company Sino Hydro Corporation Limited. According to the project's deputy in charge Bidur Adhikari, China Company Sino Hydro Corporation Limited has already constructed the necessary infrastructure -- office building, workers housing, roads, and is preparing a design and surveying the site. Likewise, the project has already assigned Indian company KEC for the construction of 220 KV double circuit line from Damauli to Chitwan, for the third phase of construction. The project is estimated to cost Rs 50.50 billion and expected to be completed in the next five years.