The biggest hydropower project in the country, Kaligandaki A, will be closed for a week for repair after problem in MIB valve of the project. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is planning to close the project from May 13-18, according to deputy managing director at the Generation Directorate of NEA Sher Singh Bhat. That is expected to cut generation by around 90-100 MW. The 144-MW project is currently generating only around 80 MW due to lower water flow.
Bhat revealed that Toshiba Company of Japan will repair the valve. He added that it is being repaired now as the warranty period of the valve is finishing soon. Chief of the Systems Operation Department of NEA Bhuwan Kumar Chhetri said closure of the project will affect supply management. “We will face problem in addressing demand when there is a sudden fall of around 90-100 MW in the system. Load-shedding can increase. It will depend on how much generation in Marsyangdi and Mid-Marsyangdi projects will rise by then,” he added. He claimed that the NEA is currently working to address demand for the period.
Kaligandaki A is currently generating 842 million units of electricity a year. It had started commercial generation in 2002. It was constructed by spending US$ 452.80 million with joint investment of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan Bank for International Co-operation and the government.
Load-shedding reduced
The NEA, meanwhile, has reduced load-shedding by an hour to 10 hours a day effective from Friday. Chhetri said it has been reduced now due to improvement in generation following rise in water level in rivers. The current demand, according to him, is 1350 MW and supply 620 MW including 300 MW imported from India.
Source : Karobar Daily
