The trial production of Sapsup Khola Small Hydropower Project under construction has started in Khotang. All the structures have been prepared in the 22 months since the start of construction of the project and trial production has started from Saturday. A team of Nepal Electricity Authority has reached the project site on Friday for trial production.
Power Project and Three Star Hydropower Limited started the construction of the project. According to company chairman Kumar Kharel, the project can be operated at full capacity by collecting water in the pond daily even in dry weather. He claimed that the Peking Run of the River project, built by the private sector, was the first. The Sapsup Khola Hydropower Project with a capacity of 6,600 kilowatts is under construction in Halesi Tuvachung Municipality and Diprung Chuichumma Village Municipality of Khotang.
A 33 kV transmission line has been constructed from the switchyard of the power house at Halesi Tuvachung-11 of the project to the switching station constructed in the old village along with the RS 49/1995 pole of Lahan Jaljal BUIPA 33 kV transmission line passing through the same ward.
The transmission line will be connected to BUIPA substation by Jaljal from a length of about 2.5 km. The voltage of the transmission line will be 33,000 volts and the transmission capacity will be 6600 kW. Commercial production will start after 15 days if there is no problem during the test. During the test, NEA will have to generate electricity for free for 15 days. The head from the project headworks to the powerhouse is 110 meters.
The company is also preparing to issue ordinary shares to the public affected by the project soon. In the first phase, 10 percent share will be issued for the residents of Halesi Tuvachung Municipality and Diprung Chuichumma of Khotang affected by the project, said Chairman Kharel.
Himalayan Bank and Rastriya Banijya Bank have invested 65 percent of the total loan in the project. 35 percent of the project has own capital. Although the construction of the project was halted due to Corona Pandemic , it was completed on time as per the agreement.
