KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Tanahun hydropower project, the second storage project of the country, has witnessed 51.44 percent of its physical progress.  

Since the commencement of its construction five years ago, the 140 MW project being constructed in Rishing Rural Municipality-1 of Tanahun District has achieved progress of around 50 percent of its construction work. The project, which is divided into three packages, has achieved financial progress of 46.34 percent as of now.

Project Chief Rajbhai Shilpakar said the work is in progress with a target to meet the deadline of 2026. “The work progress of the project is satisfactory,” he said.

According to Shilpakar, Package-1 of the project has achieved 27.75 percent physical progress and 23.88 percent financial progress. Similarly, Package-2 has achieved physical progress of 51.14 percent and financial progress of 44.09 percent. Under Package-3, the project has witnessed 76.5 percent physical progress and 72.6 percent financial progress.

The first package—a 140 meter-tall dam, 626.92 meter long tunnel and other structures — is constructed by a joint venture of Song Da Corporation, Vietnam and Kalika Construction, Nepal. The second package includes the construction of the tunnel, the powerhouse along with the installation and operation of hydromechanical and electromechanical equipment which has been awarded to Sinohydro, China.

Under the third package, the contract for the construction work of a 220 KV double circuit transmission line from Damauli to Bharatpur in Chitwan has been awarded to KEC International, India. All the construction work of the hydroelectric project is targeted to be completed by June 2026.

According to Shilpakar, they have completed construction of an underground powerhouse and are busy in installation of turbines and related equipment. While the tailrace tunnel has been completed, the main tunnel is under construction.

The project will evacuate its production via 220 kV transmission line connecting Damauli and Bharatpur of Chitwan district. Out of 94 towers that are needed to be constructed in a 34.7 km stretch of the transmission line, the foundations of 74 towers have been laid.

In order to supply electricity in local areas, two 33/11 kV substations in Ghiring Rural Municipality-4 and Bandipur Rural Municipality-6 have been brought into operation. An additional 33 kV transmission line has been installed to supply electricity generated from the powerhouse of the project to these two substations at the local level.  

The total cost of the project, including transmission lines and rural electrification, is $505 million.

Asian Development Bank is providing $150 million, Japan International Cooperation Agency $184 million, European Investment Bank $80.5 million while the government and Nepal Electricity Authority are injecting $80.6 million into the project.

 
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