With the shutdown of the largest operational project, the 456 megawatt Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, both internal electricity flow and exports have come to a halt.
Kathmandu — Due to continuous rainfall, approximately 1,300 megawatts of electricity production from various projects across the country has been halted until Saturday evening. The Nepal Electricity Authority has reported that electricity production from hydropower projects in Likhu, Solu, Koshi, Kabeli, and Tamor corridors has ceased. Among those currently in operation, the largest, the 456 megawatt Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, has been shut down since Friday evening at 7 PM.
The control room building of the project has been completely damaged by a landslide, according to Mohan Gautam, the Chief Executive Officer of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project. The company has also reported that the status of five workers involved in the project remains unknown. The authority estimates that the sand-damming pond of the project has also sustained damage.
Due to the transmission lines, electricity production from Likhu 1, Likhu 2, Likhu A, Lower Likhu, Khimti, and Upper Khimti hydropower projects has been halted, said Chandan Kumar Ghosh, spokesperson for the authority. Electricity production from other hydropower projects, including Mandu Hydropower, Upper Tamakoshi, Mid-Solu, Beni Solu, Solu Dudhkoshi, Upper Dudhkunda, and Mid-Tamor, has also been disrupted due to floods and landslides. Ghosh mentioned that apart from the damages in the powerhouse, other hydropower projects are expected to resume operations as the water levels decrease.
According to the authority, damages have occurred at Upper Tamakoshi and the 22 megawatt Mandu Hydropower. Spokesperson Ghosh stated that information about damages to other hydropower projects has not yet been received. The Independent Power Producers’ Association (IPPAN) has reported damages at Tamakoshi and Mandu, as well as at Hewakhola and Lower Hewakhola. IPPAN General Secretary Balram Khatri noted that damages have also occurred at Hewakhola-A from Panchthar Power Company and at Lower Hewakhola, promoted by Mountain Hydro Company.
The powerhouse of Lower Hewakhola has been completely submerged, there has been damage to the intake, and the generators have been washed away, but detailed information about the damage has not yet been received,” he stated. Khatri mentioned that water has again entered the project, which was in the process of being reconstructed and brought back into operation after the floods on June 15, 2023, caused damage to Hewakhola-A.
He also noted that due to heavy rainfall, many projects are closed, and the process of reopening them is ongoing. While there are reports of general damage such as poles falling at hydropower projects, details regarding the extent of the financial losses have not yet been received. IPPAN reported that the flood in the Bagmati River and the opening of the Kulekhani dam have submerged the powerhouse of Mandu Hydropower.
Due to continuous rainfall, there is not only an internal electricity flow problem but also a halt in electricity exports to India, according to Kulman Ghising, the Managing Director of the authority. “Exports to India have also been affected along with internal supply,” he said. To facilitate electricity supply, discussions are underway on how to operate locally by assessing the damage at the 456 megawatt Tamakoshi project.
Two transmission lines have also been obstructed due to the heavy rainfall. The main transmission line supplying electricity to the Kathmandu Valley has been blocked. The Tamakoshi River has washed away Tower No. 7 of the 132 kV Khimti-Lamsanghu transmission line. With the electricity supply from the Khimti-Lamsanghu transmission line cut off, approximately 100 megawatts of electricity flow to the Kathmandu Valley has been halted.
Although the 132 kV Lamsanghu-Kathmandu transmission line has not been damaged, the lack of electricity reaching that point has led to a shortage in the valley, according to spokesperson Ghosh. Primarily at night, electricity produced from hydropower projects in the Barhabise corridor was exported to India through the Khimti line. With the damage to the transmission line, the exports have been impacted.
According to the authority, generally, 2,800 megawatts of electricity would be produced. Currently, about 1,300 megawatts of electricity production is halted. The Kulekhani reservoir project has been fully operational. Kulekhani produces 60 megawatts from the first plant, 32 megawatts from the second, and 14 megawatts from the third plant. Until Saturday evening, only about 1,500 megawatts of electricity was consumed across the country.
With the collapse of Tower No. 51 of the Kabeli corridor, located between Damak in Jhapa and Godak in Ilam, approximately 200 megawatts of electricity flow from the hydropower projects in Ilam, Panchthar, and Taplejung has been cut off. Additionally, the collapse of trees has also affected the transmission lines from Dhalkebar towards Chandranigahapur. With damage to the local distribution system, electricity has also been disrupted in some areas of the Kathmandu Valley.
Source: Kantipur
