Construction of Madhya Bhotekoshi in full swing, target to complete by mid-July

Around 95 per cent construction of 102 MW Madhya-Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project in Sindhupalchowk has been completed.

The construction of the project which is being developed under the leadership of Chilime Hydropower, a subsidiary of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), is expected to be completed by mid-July, this year.

The construction of the main structures (head works) of the project, including the dam and sand settling pond has been completed. Currently, protection work is being forwarded in the head works area, according to the NEA.

The excavation work of the 7.2 km main tunnel has been completed and concrete lining work is in progress.

After completing the main civil works of the power plant, turbines, generators and control room's equipment are being installed.

The construction of the towers of the 220 kV transmission line of about four kilometres from the power station to the Bahrabise substation has been completed. But the wire expansion works are yet to be done.

Flood and landslide that occurred in Jure in 2014, devastating earthquake in April 2015, obstacles at the Nepal-India border for about five and a half months in 2015, flood in Bhotekoshi River in 2016, floods and landslides in the construction site Bhotekoshi River and surrounding areas in 2020 and COVID-19 pandemic had affected the construction of the project.

Due to the natural calamities and poor performance of the Chinese company Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction who was responsible for the civil and hydro mechanical works, the construction schedule of the project was affected.

However, the contractor company worked enthusiastically and brought the project to a stage of completion in a period of about two years, said Managing Director of NEA Kul Man Ghising.

A team, including MD Ghising, Deputy Executive Director of Project Management Directorate Tara Prasad Pradhan, Chairman of Madhya Bhotekoshi Hydropower Company Subhash Kumar Mishra inspected the construction site and received information about the construction progress.

The team held discussions with project management, contractor companies, consultants and instructed to speed up the remaining work to complete within four months.

Ghising said that the current progress of the project, which had almost been closed due to natural disasters, was satisfactory.

Chief Executive Officer of the company Ram Gopal Shiwakoti said that since the performance of the contractor company has improved, they are working on an integrated schedule with the goal of completing the construction within mid-July.

The representatives of the contractor company said that if there is no problem, they are working to complete the construction within the stipulated time.

In order not to increase the cost of the project, the Chinese company Guangxi took the contract for the civil and hydro-mechanical works under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model. Andritz Hydro is doing the electro-mechanical work.

The estimated cost of the project was Rs. 12.28 billion, excluding the interest during the construction period when the loan agreement was signed with the Employees' Provident Fund.

The updated estimated cost of the project is Rs. 15.03 billion, excluding interest during the construction period. Of the total initial cost of the project under construction, 50 per cent has been raised from equity and 50 per cent from debt.

The project will generate around 542 million units of electricity annually. The Authority will purchase electricity for the project in winter and rainy season at Rs. 8.40 and Rs. 4.80 per unit respectively.The company will earn around Rs. 2.80 billion annually.