Much-anticipated Rahughat hydropower project completed; power generation tests begin

MYAGDI: Construction of the long-awaited Rahughat hydropower project in Myagdi district has been completed and initial power generation testing is underway, project officials said on Monday.

The 40-megawatt Rahughat scheme, owned by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Raghuganga Hydropower, a government subsidiary, has finished physical construction and equipment installation, Ganesh KC, managing director of Raghuganga Hydropower, said. “The testing of the dam, descender, tunnel, and switchyard has been successful,” he said.

Testing of a second 20-MW unit began on Sunday, KC added, and trial power generation is expected to continue for about a week to 10 days as teams work to bring the plant into commercial operation.

Officials said the dam at the foot of Raghuganga-4, Dagnam and Ward No. 5 Jhin, the 6.27-kilometre main tunnel and two water-retention ponds have all been tested. Equipment testing started after completion of the powerhouse at Tilkenichaur. The switchyard on the plant site, built to connect the project to the central transmission network, has been operational since June 8.

Indian civil contractor Jaiprakash Associates (JP) was awarded the construction contract worth Rs 6 billion. The initial agreement, signed on November 17, 2017, set a 45-month completion target, but the deadline was extended several times. The schedule was first extended in February 2022 and again in June 2024; a third extension in July 2025 targeted completion by November 27, 2025. The project has since received a fourth extension, and officials said it is now close to meeting its completion goals.

Harish Agrawal, project manager for JP, said the works were delayed by a series of natural and logistical challenges, including the Covid 19 pandemic, floods, landslides and shortages of river-sourced construction materials.

Raghuganga Hydropower (RGHPL), established in March 2017 with the aim of producing 40 MW of electricity in Myagdi district, is now approaching that objective as commissioning proceeds.

(With inputs from RSS)