KATHMANDU: Hydropower projects along the Seti-Madi and Marsyangdi corridors that were disrupted by floods have resumed operation. According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 262 MW in the Seti-Madi Corridor and 190 MW in the Marsyangdi Corridor have resumed operation.
However, the Rahughat Hydropower Project, promoted through an NEA subsidiary, sustained damage in the floods and is expected to take around 10 days to resume operation. The project’s tailrace gate and duct have been damaged, while water has also entered the turbine floor.
The NEA said it will take around 10 days to bring the project back into operation after clearing the water and carrying out the necessary repairs. The project’s switchyard remains in normal condition and has already been energized.
Meanwhile, power generation from seven hydropower projects connected to the Kushma-Dana transmission line has been affected, as electricity could not be transmitted due to damage to the transmission line. The affected projects have a combined generation capacity of 190 MW.
Of the hydropower projects connected to the Rahughat Substation that were disrupted by the floods, 127 MW of generation capacity, excluding the 40-MW Rahughat Hydropower Project, is currently in a condition to resume operation, according to the NEA.
At present, eight hydropower projects remain out of operation, with a combined installed capacity of 230 MW.
Meanwhile, the NEA estimates that the 144-MW Kaligandaki Hydropower Station, which was shut down due to the floods, will resume operation by this evening.
The NEA said work to repair and restore generation and transmission infrastructure damaged by floods and landslides has been accelerated.
Nepalpurbadhar
