Contract signed to build 400 kV Ratmate substation under MCC

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, June 16: Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Nepal has signed a contract with Techno Electric and Engineering Company Ltd., India to construct a 400 kV substation at Ratmate in Belkotgadhi Municipality-7 of Nuwakot district.

Khadga Bahadur Bisht, Executive Director at MCA-Nepal, and Rajiv Agarwal, Director - Commercial at Techno Electric and Engineering Company Ltd., India signed and exchanged the contract in the presence of MCC and MCA-Nepal officials on Saturday. With this contract, MCA-Nepal has now signed two of the three substation construction contracts planned under the MCC Nepal Compact.

Issuing a press statement on Saturday, MCA-Nepal informed that the contract was awarded as a part of implementing Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact. The 400 kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation will be constructed within 39 months. 

According to the MCA-Nepal, the Ratmate Substation will have a capacity of 1000 Mega Volt Ampere making it one of the largest substations in the country. The substation to be constructed at US$ 51.6 million will serve as a critical interconnection of power transmission between the Lapsiphedi and New Hetauda Substation. 

On the occasion, NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising congratulated the MCA-Nepal team and said, “The 400 kV Ratmate Substation, as envisioned in the Transmission System Development Plan of Nepal (TSDPN), is a critical component of Nepal's national power transmission system and yet another milestone in MCC Nepal Compact’s contribution to the energy sector in Nepal.”

Diane L Francisco, Resident Country Director of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), said, “The signing of the Ratmate Substation, the second of the three substations, marks a significant stride forward as the MCC Nepal Compact builds momentum in its implementation. Over the next few years, we are confident that the progress of the MCC Nepal Compact will provide critical contributions to Nepal’s growing energy sector, helping meet Nepal’s evolving needs, bolstering Nepal’s immense potential, and bringing prosperity to the Nepali people.”

MCA-Nepal Executive Director Khadga Bahadur Bisht said, “MCA-Nepal is expediting all works for the construction of the substations and transmission lines under the Electricity Transmission Project funded by the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Nepal. The contract for the third substation in Damauli is in the pipeline and the bids for the 18 km cross-border line are under evaluation.”

The 400 kV Ratmate Substation will also have evacuation capacity of around 3,200 MW of power from hydropower projects and substations. The reliable power at various voltage levels at the substation will be available for distribution in Nepal to enhance industrial and commercial activities. 

Along with three substations, the MCC Nepal Compact will fund the construction of up to 315 km of transmission line from Lapsiphedi, Kathmandu to the Nepal-India border in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) under the Electricity Transmission Project. 

signed and exchanged the contract in the presence of MCC and MCA-Nepal officials on Saturday. With this contract, MCA-Nepal has now signed two of the three substation construction contracts planned under the MCC Nepal Compact.