Setikhola hydropower project begins feeding 22MW into national grid on trial

KASKI: Setikhola Hydropower Project has begun producing electricity and is feeding power into the national grid on a trial basis, according to project officials. The plant, in Pokhara Metropolitan City-33, has a generation capacity of 22 megawatts.

The trial supply followed inspection and testing by a technical team from Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the promoter company’s director, Deepak Baral, said. He said the trial phase will run for 15 days, after which regular commercial production is expected to start. During the trial period, the power will be supplied to the NEA system while the project’s equipment undergoes technical testing.

Construction of the project, promoted by Setikhola Hydropower, began in Mangsir 2078 BS. The dam has been built at Tiklang, Pokhara-33, and water is channelled to the powerhouse in Tallopunditar through a 3,106-metre tunnel. Two turbines, each with an 11 MW capacity, have been installed.

The project carries an investment of Rs 5.05 billion. Company officials said preparations are underway to issue an initial public offering (IPO) to the general public once commercial operations begin, expected within the next fiscal year.

Completion was delayed after the project had aimed to start production last Mangsir because of a hold-up in obtaining approvals for forest areas required for the transmission line. “Out of the five towers built for the transmission line, three are in forest areas, so it took time to get the necessary approvals,” Director Baral said.

Several other hydropower projects of varying capacities are under development on Seti River. Since last year, the 25-megawatt Seti River project promoted by Vision Lumbini Energy Company has been commercially generating power. Around half a dozen projects are in early construction stages, and a few are already under construction.

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