Lamjung Hydropower Projects Increase Production with Monsoon Rains

Lamjung. In Lamjung, which falls in Gandaki Province, a 'hub' of hydropower projects, electricity production has started to increase. In various projects here where electricity production was decreasing due to lack of sufficient water, electricity production has started to increase with the increase in water flow in rivers and streams with the onset of monsoon.

Electricity production has also increased at the 70 MW Middle Marsyangdi Hydropower Project, the district's first, located in Dalal, Besisahar Municipality-1. Project Chief of the center Taradatta Bhatta said, "Due to insufficient water in the Marsyangdi River for the project, electricity production was low in winter. With sufficient water, electricity has been produced at full capacity for about 15 days."

He informed that while only 26-27 MW was produced in winter this fiscal year due to water scarcity, the project has been producing electricity at its own capacity since the monsoon started. According to him, electricity of 70 MW capacity is produced from two turbines of 35-35 MW capacity. The project started electricity production after its construction began in the year 2000 at a cost of Rs 27.20 billion and was completed in 2008.

Similarly, the production of the 50 MW Upper Marsyangdi 'A' Hydropower Project located in Bhulbhule, Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-8, has also started to increase, the project office said. According to the project, electricity has been produced at full capacity for the past few days. The project started construction in January 2013 and commercial production in January 2017.

The project was completed with 90% investment from Chinese multinational company Sino Hydro and 10% from Nepal's Chitwan Koi Group (Sagarmatha Hydropower Company). Electricity production is also increasing in projects like 54 MW Super Dordi 'B', 30 MW Nadi Hydropower, 27 MW Dordikhola, 25 MW Upper Dordi 'A', 12 MW Dordi-1, 7 MW Upper Mimdi, 5 MW Siuri Khola, and 4.4 MW Randikhola.

Similarly, electricity production has started to increase in Khudi Khola Small Hydropower Project and Upper Chhandikhola, both with 4 MW capacity, 3 MW Mimdi Khola, 2.4 MW Upper Syange Khola, 2 MW Chhandikhola, 183 kW Syange Microhydro, and 80 kW Mimdi Microhydro, informed Project Chief Taradatta Bhatta.

Experts say that the electricity produced by the projects that have started production in the district plays an important role in illuminating the country by connecting to the national transmission line. It is seen that the decrease or increase in electricity production in these projects also has an economic impact on the country. In the district, production decreases every year due to low water flow in rivers like Marsyangdi, Dordi, Kisedi, Phidim Khola, and electricity is produced at full capacity when there is sufficient water.