Kathmandu, 10 November 2024 — Electricity from the national transmission grid has reached the base camp (Tilicho Lake Base Camp) of the popular tourist destination Tilicho Lake, located in Manang, a district across the Himalayas.
Electricity supply has begun at the base camp in Khangsar, Ngisyang Rural Municipality-9, situated at an altitude of 4,250 meters above sea level. A 50 kVA capacity distribution transformer has been installed at the base camp to provide electricity.
The base camp has 10 hotels, a health post, and small restaurants, with 15 registered electricity consumers. Before connecting to the national grid, the base camp relied on solar power and diesel generators for electricity. This area falls under the Annapurna Conservation Area.
Noting the prior challenges with electricity supply due to limited solar backup, Ward Chairman Chyolpa Gurung from Ngisyang Rural Municipality-9 said that the situation has greatly improved with the arrival of the national transmission line.
“Since the national line arrived, machines have been installed to measure oxygen levels for trekkers heading to Tilicho Lake, and electricity is now used to boil water, reducing gas usage by about 40%,” said Gurung, who also operates a hotel at the base camp. “However, as it is a long line, tripping is an issue. If the line can be made reliable and of high quality, hotels can use ACs and induction cookers, allowing for complete replacement of gas for cooking.”
In a recent visit to Khangsar, Ngisyang Rural Municipality-9, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kulman Ghising mentioned that electricity from the national grid was supplied to Tilicho Lake Base Camp as part of the campaign to illuminate religious and tourist areas. In a discussion with locals, he emphasized that efforts are underway to improve the quality and reliability of the power supply across Manang, a region frequently visited by both domestic and foreign tourists.
The 33 kV transmission line from the Radhi Small Hydropower Plant in Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-5, Ghermu, Lamjung, has been extended to the 33/11 kV substation in Syakru, Chame Rural Municipality-1. From this substation, the 11 kV line has been extended through the district headquarters Chame to the base camp.
To ensure consistent power in Manang, NEA operates the 45 kW Chame Small Hydropower Plant and the 80 kW Manang Small Hydropower Plant, providing electricity when the national transmission line faces outages, according to Raju Mahato, Chief of the NEA Manang Distribution Center.
Under the Marsyangdi Corridor 220 kV Transmission Line Project, a 220 kV capacity substation has been completed in Dharapani, Naso Rural Municipality-1, Manang. This substation, once operational, will improve electricity supply in Manang. Additional structures for local electricity supply have been arranged at Dharapani Substation, which is expected to be completed within the next one and a half years.
