KATHMANDU, Dec 2
Zhejiang Jinlun Company of China has agreed to install hydromechanical and electromechanical equipment for the Kulekhani III Hydropower Project by the end of June, 2014.
The Chinese company has agreed to start installation of hydromechanical and electromechanical equipment from coming February during the discussion between the officials of the promoter Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and the consultant Water and Power Consultant Limited of India on Monday. The project looks set to be completed in time with this agreement. The Chinese Company has also provided the schedule of import and installation of the equipment to NEA. The Chinese company, that received the contract for installing hydromechanical and electromechanical equipment, had earlier gone out of contact. The deadline for completion of the project expires in eight months. Seventy percent of civil construction of the project has been completed while works for the diversion and construction of siphon at Bhainse. The project stated that these works will also start now.
Project Manager of Zhejiang UP Mishra said that import of equipment will be started in a way to ensure completion of the project in scheduled time. “There has been agreement on import and installation of hydromechanical and electromechanical equipment. The company will now start import of equipment,” he added. He revealed that the company will start import from February after completing works including specifications for the project.
The project was facing problems due to delay in the installation of hydromechanical and electromechanical equipment after Zhejiang had gone out of contact. The project has already been delayed by two and half years in lack of effective work by civil contractor Sino Hydro Corporation and delay by NEA in appointing consultant. The deadline for completion of the project has been extended by 30 months to September, 2014. Civil contractor Sino Hydro has already claimed compensation of around Rs 700 million stating that map and site were not provided on time, and problem in construction due to strikes. NEA has yet to take any decision on its claim. The cost of the project has already increased by Rs 1.86 billion from Rs 2.43 billion to Rs 4.29 billion. Around 65 percent of the project including construction of the tunnel has been completed while Rs 2.03 billion has already been spent.
The installed capacity of the project is 14 MW. The total installed capacity of Kulekhani Project will rise to 106 MW after completion of this project. Construction of the project was started in April, 2008 with an aim of completing it by December, 2011. Feasibility study has showed that the project will generate 40.81 million units of electricity a year.
Source : Karobar Daily
