Monsoon damages 16 hydropower plants in Nepal

• 2 months ago (2024-09-30)
• David Flin

Asia 897 Hydropower 134

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According to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), landslides and floods induced by incessant rains have caused damage to powerhouses, transmission lines, and other structures, affecting 16 hydropower plants in Nepal. Details are still being gathered, and the extent of the damage could prove to be greater.

Among the damage details are:

The dam site and a pond to filter sand at the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Project, being developed by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, an auxiliary company of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), have been damaged and construction delayed. Four people at the site are missing, believed drowned.

According to IPPAN, the powerhouse of the 22 MW Bagamati Small Hydropower Project is completely submerged, and production at the 22.1 MW Lower Hewakhola Hydropower Project and the 14.9 MW Hewakhola Hydropower Project have been halted due to flooding. Damage to the dams at the 86 MW Solu Dudhkoshi Hydropower Project, the 3 MW Maikhola Cascade Hydropower Project, and the 14.9 MW Hewakhola Hydropower Project have caused power production at these sites to be halted.

The NEA said that it has been trying to repair damage to power production centres, going to push, but that a total of 980 MW of power capacity had been affected, along with many miles of transmission lines. As a result, NEA has had to import an additional 300 MW from India.