Kathmandu, March 19

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has said that construction works of the 60-megawatt Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower project are about to be completed and the electricity generated by the project will be connected to the national grid by April.

As per NEA, the project will be able to commission the first unit — 30 megawatts — of electricity by April and the second unit by June 30.

A meeting that was held today between Kul Man Ghising, managing director of NEA, concerned project officials, consultant firm, project contractors and transmission line contractor has decided to commission the generated electricity from next month.

“We faced many hassles during the construction of Upper Trishuli 3A project including delays caused by the earthquake and blockade in southern border in 2015. However, we have able to meet the extended deadline to commission the electricity,” said Ghising.

According to him, the power generated by the project will help manage the demand and supply situation of Kathmandu Valley. “Moreover, it will help other hydropower projects being constructed in the Trishuli basin as they will be able to commission power through the transmission line built for the project,” Ghising added.

As per Phadindra Raj Joshi, project chief of Upper Trishuli 3A, project will start operating sediment management system by March 25. After that the project has plans to test the main tunnel, headrace tunnel, various equipment, barrage of the pond, and dry and wet test system by the end of March.

“At present, engineers are working on the electromechanical and hydromechanical components.”

The Upper Trishuli 3A project located in Nuwakot was earlier surrounded in uncertainty after the contractor, China Gezhouba Group Company, halted all works citing heavy damage to the access road and dam during 2015 earthquake. The Chinese firm resumed works after the government had the access road repaired by the Nepali Army.