Dolakha, June 17

Installation of penstock pipe at the lower vertical tunnel of the 456MW Tamakoshi Hydropower Project has started at Lamabagar of Bigu Rural Municipality, Dolakha.

Austrian Company Andritz Hydro started penstock pipe installation work at the tunnel last night. Penstock installation is considered the most difficult task of the project.

Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project said it took seven hours to instal a pipe weighing 27 tonnes in the tunnel. Work of welding and concretising the pipe is under way. After the installation is over, another pipe will be installed.

Project spokesperson Ganesh Prasad Neupane said installation of the penstock pipe was an arduous task. “Earlier, installation work was halted after a crane rope snapped. Successful installation this time has laid the foundation for producing power from the first unit within the revised schedule,” Neupane said.

After Indian company Texmaco, which was awarded the contract for supplying pipe and installing the penstock pipe, delayed the work, the contract was handed over to Austrian Company Andritz Hydro. A tripartite agreement was reached among the hydropower, Texmaco and Andritz around six months ago.

Nepal Electricity Authority’s Chief Executive Officer Kulman Ghising has been visiting the site of the power project every month to inspect progress, at the directive of Energy Minister Barshaman Pun.

In accordance with the latest schedule, the hydro power is slated to produce 76 megawatt power from its first unit by 31 December, 2019.