Kathmandu, September 19
During the past year, 20 hydropower projects larger than 1 MW have started commercial production. According to the data of the Department of Electricity Development, the total capacity of these projects connected to the national transmission in the fiscal year 2022/23 is 466 MW.
According to the director general of the department, Chiranjeewee Chataut, the department also honoured the promoters of these companies this year.
The largest hydropower project completed in the last fiscal year is the 86 MW Solu Khola (Dudh Koshi) project. This project built by Sahas Urja Limited is in Solukhumbu district. Similarly, the 54 MW Super Dordi ‘B’ Hydropower Project in Lamjung district was also completed in the last fiscal year.
The 44 MW Super Madi project in Kaski district and the 38.46 MW Upper Kalanga Gad Hydroelectric Project in Bajhang were also completed in the same year. The 36 MW Upper Balephi and 28.1 MW Lower Likhu Hydropower Projects were also completed in the last fiscal year.
The Dordi Khola Hydropower Project of 27 MW capacity and the Upper Dordi ‘A’ of 25 MW capacity were also completed last year. Similarly, the 19.8 MW Upper Solu Khola and 18 MW Madhya Modi projects also started commercial production in the last fiscal year.
Dordi-1 with a capacity of 12 MW and Chepe Khola with a capacity of 8.63 MW also started commercial production in the same year. Similarly, the production of 4.96 MW Puwa 2, and 9.5 MW Mid Solu Khola has also started this year.
This year, 15.33 MW Kalanga Gad, 4.55 MW Upper Machha Khola, 4.72 MW Upper Piluwa Khola, 10 MW Makri Gad, 5 MW Rukum Gad and 14.9 MW Maya Khola hydropower projects have started commercial production.
Currently, 141 projects across the country are producing hydropower commercially, according to the department.
In the country, the total capacity of hydropower projects alone is 2,551 megawatts. By incorporating solar, cogeneration, alternative energy promotion centres, and less than 1-megawatt capacity diesel plants, the total power generation capacity has now reached 2,784 megawatts.
The department anticipates that in the ongoing fiscal year, the construction of hydropower projects of around 900 MW in capacity will be completed.
