The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has begun efforts to revive hydropower projects damaged by the floods of August 26.
To assess the technical and financial damage caused by the floods, the Authority has started cleaning mud, silt, and other river-borne materials from the tunnels and powerhouses of the affected projects.
For this purpose, the NEA has initiated the tendering process to remove accumulated mud, rocks, and sand from tunnels, powerhouses, canals, and other structures belonging to its own projects and those operated by its subsidiary companies.
The floods damaged several operational projects owned by the NEA, including:
Trishuli Hydropower Station (24 MW)
Devighat Hydropower Station (14.1 MW)
Upper Trishuli 3A (60 MW)
Nuwakot Solar Power Project (25 MW)
Projects under its subsidiary companies were also affected:
Chilime Hydropower Project (22 MW)
Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project (111 MW)
The powerhouses and tunnels of these projects sustained damage.
The actual extent of the damage to these projects has not yet been determined. Since the damage to structures such as powerhouses, tunnels, and dams can only be properly assessed after removing the accumulated mud, the concerned projects had invited tenders before the Dashain festival to carry out cleaning work.
The proposals received are currently being evaluated. The NEA plans to award the contracts so that work can begin immediately after the Tihar festival.
According to Kiran Kumar Shrestha, Head of the NEA’s Generation Directorate and Deputy Executive Director, cleaning work is being planned at all the affected projects except Rasuwagadhi. Cleaning work at Rasuwagadhi has not yet been initiated because road access to the project site is unavailable.
“Damaged projects need to be reconstructed. Cleaning work is being carried out to determine the actual extent of the damage,” he said. “The Authority plans to conduct a study through consultants after excavating the buried structures to assess the condition of the equipment and infrastructure.”
According to Shrestha, if work begins immediately after Tihar and proceeds without interruption, the removal of debris from the tunnels and powerhouses is expected to be completed in approximately four months.
“After that, consultants will assess the damage to physical infrastructure, mechanical and electrical equipment, as well as estimate the cost of reconstruction,” he said. “The government, the NEA, donor agencies, and other stakeholders must now take initiatives to secure the financial resources required for this assessment and reconstruction.”
Shrestha also stated that although excavation and cleaning work is about to begin, funding for the damage assessment and reconstruction of the projects has not yet been secured.
The government is currently working to repair damaged roads and restore bridges. The NEA expects to use this restored infrastructure to transport excavators and other cleaning equipment to the affected powerhouses.
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