Myagdi: Construction of a hydropower project has begun on the Kaligandaki River, which flows through Annapurna Rural Municipality in Myagdi district. This is the first hydropower project to be developed on the Kaligandaki River within this municipality.
Hydro Support Company has started building the Mid-Kaligandaki Hydropower Project, with a capacity of 66.3 megawatts. The civil contractor Rasuwa–Multi JV has commenced the construction of a 4,319-meter-long tunnel using explosives in Annapurna-2, Nagdhangga, according to Hydro Support’s director, Chandra Dhakal.
The audit tunnel extends 459 meters, and tunneling from the dam side is expected to begin within this month while work from the outlet side will start in winter. A 12-metre-high and 35-metre-long dam will be built in Annapurna-3, Sukebagar, diverting water from a height of 151 meters to an underground powerhouse in Naunibagar, Annapurna-2, to generate electricity.
The run-of-the-river project will feature underground components, including the powerhouse, switchyard, and control room. Phanindra Raj Pandey, CEO of Rasuwa–Multi JV, said that advanced equipment such as Boomer robotic shotcrete machines have been deployed for tunnel construction.
Electricity generated from the Mid-Kaligandaki project will be transmitted via a 220 kV substation located 7 kilometers uphill in Dana. The company aims to complete the project within three years. The project’s total estimated cost is Rs 12.93 billion.
The financing is being arranged through a consortium led by Nabil Bank Limited, with six commercial banks providing 75 percent of the funding, and the remaining 25 percent to be covered by project promoters and shareholders.
A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has already been signed with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The agreed tariff is Rs 8.40 per unit in winter and Rs 4.80 per unit in the rainy season.
The project is expected to generate revenues of approximately Rs 1.09 billion during winter from 130 GWh, and Rs 1.33 billion during the rainy season from 277 GWh.
According to Annapurna Rural Municipality Chairperson Bharat Kumar Pun, the Kaligandaki River basin has seen increased hydropower activity, with three other projects over 300 MW in total capacity receiving construction approval.
These include the 65 MW Upper Kaligandaki Project and the 180 MW Kaligandaki Gorge Project, both in the planning or pre-construction phase.
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