Upper Myagdi Hydropower Project Reaches 50% Completion in 13 Months

Myagdi. The Upper Myagdi hydropower project under construction in Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality of Myagdi has achieved 50 percent physical progress in 13 months since construction began.

The 46.25 MW project, promoted by Hydro Empire Limited, is accelerating construction on its dam, tunnel, powerhouse, transmission line, and hydro and electromechanical components with the goal of commencing electricity generation by Chaitra 2083 BS.

Project Chief Ramesh Subedi informed that 50 percent physical progress has been made in the project, which began construction in Chaitra 2081 BS. "We are working according to a work plan to complete the underground structures, including the tunnel, within the next eight months and move to finishing," he said. "The civil contractor is working to expedite the tunnel, dam, and powerhouse construction, and the transmission line and penstock pipeline work will also begin soon."

Project Chief Subedi stated that out of the total underground structures, including the 6,425-meter main tunnel, 4,220 meters were completed as of Tuesday. The dam is under construction at Singkosh Dobhan in Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality-4, and the powerhouse is being built at Ghimleti (Kharpani).

Tunnel construction is underway from the dam site, Chechung audit, and Ghimleti outlet. The administrative building of the project has been constructed at Ghimleti. An 843-meter-long penstock pipeline will run from the outlet to the powerhouse. This project is a run-of-the-river type.

All structures except the dam, intake, and powerhouse, including the gravel trap, desander, main tunnel, and surge tunnel, will be underground. The civil contractor for the project is RSC RJ JV, and Machhapuchchhre Engineering Pvt. Ltd.

Additionally, Troya Italy is the contractor for the electromechanical work. Machhapuchchhre Metal & Machinery Workshop Pvt. Ltd. is engaged for the hydromechanical work.

Hydro Empire Chairman Kaji Lama stated that the process to increase the project's capacity from the previous 37 MW to 46.25 MW is in its final stages. The capacity has been increased by raising the head from 314 meters to 317 meters and increasing the water flow into the tunnel from the river from 14.41 cubic meters per second to 17.24 cubic meters per second, without requiring additional land acquisition or forest land usage.

Chairman Lama mentioned that this project will provide a quick return on investment to investors as there is sufficient water in the Myagdi River even during the dry season. According to Hydro Empire Managing Director Jit Bahadur Gharti, the estimated cost of the project is Rs 8.46 billion, 54.2 million, with investments from Siddhartha Bank leading, along with Nepal SBI Bank, Citizens Bank International, Everest Bank, and Nabil Bank. The ratio is 70 percent bank loan and 30 percent equity.

Gharti also stated that 10 percent of the total cost has been allocated as shares for the residents of the affected areas. The electricity generated from this project will be connected to the central grid through the Nepal Electricity Authority's Dhandakhola substation. A 10-kilometer-long 132 KV capacity double circuit transmission line is being prepared for construction.

An access road of approximately 18 kilometers has been constructed from Shivratrikhola to the dam construction site. The project has assisted in bringing roads to Khiwang and Chechung villages upon the recommendation of Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality.