Kathmandu, March 1

Maintenance works on one of the two turbines of the Middle Marsyangdi hydropower project was completed today after a week. Subsequently, generation of 35 megawatts of electricity resumed from today morning.

The 70-megawatt Middle Marsyangdi was shut down for maintenance works from February 22 and power generation resumed from today after completion of maintenance works on one turbine, according to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

The project, located in Lamjung district, is a peaking run-of-the-river project that generates power as per the rated capacity.

NEA was able to smoothly manage the demand of power during the peak hours despite the shutdown of the 70MW project for maintenance works since last week.

Maintenance works on the second turbine is expected to be completed before March 6, as per NEA.

Following the full-fledged operation of Middle Marsyangdi after completion of the maintenance works, the power utility is planning to carry out the maintenance works of 144MW Kali Gandaki project.

NEA is utilising the Kulekhani reservoir project to manage the load during the maintenance of the projects. As the water level of Kulekhani reservoir project has elevated by two metres as compared to last year, NEA will start maintenance works of other projects that require maintenance, including Kali Gandaki.

The NEA has been simultaneously carrying out maintenance of turbines, building retention walls at the dam site and excavating the sand from the reservoir, which will increase the storage capacity of water in Middle Marsyangdi.

NEA had not carried out maintenance works on Middle Marsyangdi and Kali Gandaki last year as the power utility was under pressure to fulfil its pledge to end load-shedding for domestic users.