Kathmandu, August 4

More than 60 per cent construction work of the 220kV Trishuli III B hub substation has been completed so far, as per Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Currently, the base for the transformer is being constructed while the construction of the substation control building has begun. While construction of security walls of the substation is nearing completion, other equipment related to the substation will be supplied in the project site within the next one-and-a-half months, the power utility informed.

Kul Man Ghising, managing director of NEA, recently visited the project site at Nuwakot and directed the project management team, consultant and the contractor to complete construction of the substation within the designated time.

Moreover, Ghising also directed the contractor to add more manpower at the project site to ensure that project construction is smooth and uninterrupted.

“In case we fail to complete this substation project within the next one year, we will fail to synchronise the 168 megawatts of electricity that will be produced under the Chilime Hydropower Company to the national grid. If this happens, a huge volume of electricity will go to waste and NEA will have to pay penalty worth millions to the project,” said Ghising urging the contractor and other stakeholders to expedite project works. Moreover, he assured that NEA will help resolve any problem that the project faces be it social or financial.

Nepal Electricity Authority has set December 31 this year as the deadline for the completion of this project.

Earlier in April, locals had interrupted construction of the substation due to various reasons, which NEA had termed irrelevant. Ghising had then warned those interrupting the project that NEA would take action in coordination with the district administration office and police. Since then, construction works at the project have been going on smoothly.

The project is expected to cost Rs eight billion. European Investment Bank is investing 30 million euros in the project, while German Development Bank (KfW) is putting in 14 million euros. Likewise, the European Union is investing 2.25 million euros while Nepal Electricity Authority is chipping in 19 million euros.