Kathmandu, November 4, 2024 (19 Kartik 2081 BS) – The construction of the Chilime–Trishuli 220 kV transmission line, initiated to channel electricity generated from hydropower projects on the Trishuli River and its tributaries into the national grid, has been completed.
The 28-kilometer transmission line extends from the Chilime Hub Substation at Thambuchet, Aamachodingmo Rural Municipality in Rasuwa, to the Trishuli 3B Hub Substation at Pahirebensi, Kispang Rural Municipality in Nuwakot. According to Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), employees and contractors worked tirelessly through the public holidays of Dashain and Tihar to complete the transmission line construction.
Ghising mentioned that the infrastructure is ready to channel power from the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi and 42.5 MW Sanjen hydropower projects, developed under NEA’s subsidiary, Chilime Hydropower, along with other hydropower projects in Rasuwa. The Rasuwagadhi and Sanjen projects are nearing the electricity generation phase.
“The construction involved erecting towers in geographically risky and challenging mountainous areas, with steep cliffs, lack of roads, and limited accessibility for materials transport. Materials had to be carried by people or mules, and obstacles included landslides, forest land usage issues, local resistance, COVID-19 disruptions, and adverse weather,” Ghising said. “Completing this project is a significant achievement despite these difficulties.”
A cross-border transmission line, the Chilime–Kerung line, is also being developed to facilitate power trade with northern neighbor China. The Chilime–Trishuli line will serve as a connector to China.
Under the Chilime–Trishuli 220 kV transmission line project, the 220/132/33 kV Chilime Hub and Trishuli 3B Hub substations have also been completed. Electricity reaching the Trishuli 3B Hub Substation will be integrated into the national grid through the 220 kV Trishuli–Kathmandu transmission line to Matatirtha, Kathmandu. Electricity from the Sanjen and Rasuwagadhi hydropower projects will be connected to the national grid via the Chilime Hub Substation and Chilime–Trishuli transmission line.
A total of 76 towers have been constructed for the 28-kilometer line, traversing an altitude range from 680 to 2,600 meters above sea level. Construction of 33 towers required building access roads. The project constructed over 20 kilometers of access roads, according to Thark Bahadur Thapa, Director of NEA’s High Voltage Grid Department. Thapa noted that nine towers required air transport of materials using helicopters, and materials were also transported by mules and laborers.
From Tiru in Uttargaya Rural Municipality–1 to Siruchet in the same ward, cables were stretched over a span of 1,235 meters, with the Mailung Crossing completed using drones.
The Chilime–Mailung section consists of a 20-kilometer double-circuit line, while the Mailung–Trishuli 3B Hub segment has an 8-kilometer multi-circuit line. The multi-circuit line will connect power from the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, led by Korean companies, with 60% of the costs for constructing this multi-circuit line covered by Upper Trishuli-1.
The estimated cost of the Chilime–Trishuli project is USD 362.89 million, funded by the Government of Nepal, NEA, and a grant from German Development Bank (KfW). The European Investment Bank, established by the European Union, has provided concessional loans for the project.
For the transmission line and substation construction, a contract was signed with the Chinese company Pinggao Group of Companies in November 2017 (Kartik 2074 BS), with implementation beginning in January 2018 (Poush 2074 BS).
