Power transmission line comes into operation

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 15: The second circuit of the Chameliya-Syaule-Attariya 132 kV transmission line, built to supply the electricity generated from the hydroelectric projects of Darchula and Bajhang districts to the national system, has come into operation.

The 131-km-long second circuit of double circuit transmission line starts from Balanch in Shailyashikhar Municipality of Darchula and passes through Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Doti before ending at Attariya substation in Godabari Municipality of Kailali.  

The first circuit of the transmission line constructed by the 30-MW Chameliya hydroelectric project, built by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in Darchula, was in operation from 2073 B.S. With the concessional loan of Korean Exim Bank, the tower structures of the transmission line were built for double circuit. However, the project built only one circuit and brought it into operation.

The second circuit has been built and the line brought into operation with an investment of about Rs. 600 million by the government of Nepal. Managing director of the NEA Kul Man Ghising said that another circuit was added after single circuit could not supply the electricity produced by the hydropower projects that have been constructed and will be constructed in that area.

He said, “After the Chameliya Hydropower Project built the transmission line infrastructure, the door has been opened for the construction of hydropower projects in the river channels of Darchula and Bajhang districts in the far west.”

“Now the infrastructure has been prepared for electricity generation up to 250 MW produced in that area. Besides, the voltage will be improved in Kohalpur West area of Banke district.”

Chameliya-Syaule-Attariya 132 KV transmission line is currently connected with about 110 megawatts of electricity from projects constructed by the Authority and the private sector. Additional 50 megawatts of electricity produced from the private sector projects are in the process of being connected.

A 132-33 kV substation is being operated at Syaule in Dadeldhura to ensure regular and reliable power supply in the hilly districts of the Sudurpashchim Province. The electricity coming from Balanch substation has been supplied to Dadeldhura, Darchula, Doti, Baitadi and Achham through Syaule substation. About six MW of electricity is consumed in that area.

The electricity is supplied locally from Syaule substation and connected into the national transmission system.

The electricity demand of the western region from Kohalpur is about 80 MW in winter and 200 MW in summer.

The construction of the second circuit of the Chameliya-Syaule-Attariya 132 kV transmission line was started from the fiscal year 2074/75 BS.

Anil Adhikari, chief of the project, said that there was some delay in the work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and obstruction of some locals of Dadeldhura and Darchula districts who had received compensation and compensation in the past for the extension of the wire of the second circuit.