The Upper Dordi A, a 25 MW hydropower project based in Dordi Rural Municipality, Lamjung, is all set to start its production in the next six months.
The Upper Dordi A, under construction in Dordi Khola, which is located between Dodeni-6 and Phaleni-7 of the rural municipality, is being developed by Liberty Energy Hydropower. The Chairman of Liberty Energy, Kush Kumar Joshi, said they have completed 80 percent of the construction work as of now.
According to Joshi, the company plans to conclude major construction of the project by mid-January. “We have planned to complete the construction of the entire structure and installation of equipment by mid-March,” Joshi said. The company reported that it has also completed 90 percent of the installation of penstock pipes. The civil work of penstocks and hydro mechanical work of the project is undertaken by Machapuchchhre JV. The power plant has penstock pipes of length 2,854 meters in total.
As per the project officials, about 60 percent of the head works and power house construction has also been completed, which was assigned to Bajra Guru Construction. Last week, the project carried out the ‘breakthrough’ construction of its tunnel, the total length of which is 2,623 m. The project’s powerhouse will have two pelton turbines, each with capacity of 12.5 MW.
Four years ago, a consortium of banks led by Nepal Investment Bank Limited approved a loan of Rs 2.83 billion for the development of the Upper Dordi A. The project was supposed to be completed by April this year; however, it missed its completion deadline, citing a number of reasons, including the protests from local people.
The project is one of the five projects being developed on the Dordi Khola. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 3.96 billion. And Aatma Ram Ghimire, managing director of the project, said a total of Rs2.62 billion has been spent on the construction as of now.
The electricity generated out of the Upper Dordi A is expected to cost Rs 140 million per MW. The electricity generated is expected to be supplied through a 132 kV sub-station situated at Kirtipur, Lamjung.
Of the total investment of the project, 70 percent is financed from bank loans while 30 percent came from the equity capital of promoters. The project is said to have invested Rs60 million for the local development targeting the affected people.
Source : The Kathmandu Post
