Kathmandu, December 7, 2025 — The Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, constructed under the leadership of Chilime Hydropower (a subsidiary company of Nepal Electricity Authority), has begun partial operations. On July 8 this year, a glacial lake outburst flood originating from the Lyande river flowing from Tibet, China, caused massive damage to the project’s dam and other structures (headworks).
Following the repair of the headworks, one of the three units in the power house was brought into operation on Saturday by temporarily diverting water from the river. The project, with an installed capacity of 111 MW, generates 37 MW of electricity from one unit.
The remaining two units will be brought into operation within a month, and reconstruction work is underway with the plan to complete the remaining repair works in the headworks area before the upcoming monsoon season, according to the Authority’s Managing Director Manoj Silwal.
Managing Director Silwal stated that, through the tireless efforts and hard work of the officials and employees of the Authority, Chilime, and Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Company, the damaged structures were repaired and the project was successfully brought back into operation. He said, “With the commencement of electricity generation from the project, managing electricity demand during the winter season will become somewhat easier.”
The flood had swept away equipment such as machines, gates, and other devices used to block logs, weeds, and plants carried by water in the headworks area. More than two meters of mud had accumulated inside buildings including the headworks control section. Large boulders had reached the headworks, and the structures built to direct water into the tunnel were destroyed. Additionally, water had entered through the tailrace—used to return water to the river after electricity generation—causing the turbine floor to become completely submerged.
After the repair of the headworks, one of the three units in the power house was temporarily diverted from the river and one unit was put into operation from Saturday. On the said day, 22 employees working in the hydropower project were rescued from the headworks area and the residential area by an army helicopter. The staff residential area was completely washed away. Due to the flood, not only the project but also the main highway leading from Syafrubensi to the project site was blocked at various places due to landslides. This has been brought to light. One unit of the 111 MW installed capacity project generates 37 MW of electricity.
The project started commercial electricity generation on 31 December 2024. However, electricity generation from the project was stopped after the floods in June/July caused damage. Once the project is fully operational, it will generate 613.875 million units of electricity annually. The company will earn an annual income of Rs 3.25 billion from the sale of this electricity.