Construction of 220 kV substation at Udipur completes

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 19: The construction of a 220 kV substation at Udipur in Besishahar Municipality of Lamjung under the Marsyangdi Corridor 220 kV Transmission Line Project, has been completed.

The Udipur substation based on 'Gas Insulated Substation (GIS)' technology has 220/132 kV, 160 MVA and 132/33 kV, 50 MVA power transformers. 

The construction of the substation has been completed and all the equipment, including the power transformer has been successfully tested, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

The 132 kV substation has also been brought into operation.

As per the power purchase agreement between Nepal Electricity Authority and Himalayan Power Partner, electricity of 27 MW Dordi Khola Hydropower project has been connected to this substation. 

The Dordi Corridor 132 kV double circuit transmission line constructed for the electricity produced from Dordi of Lamjung and its tributaries will now be connected to this substation, said the NEA.

As the construction of Udipur substation seemed to take some time, the electricity supplying from the Dordikhola Hydropower and Dordi Corridor Transmission line was bypassed to the Udipur substation and connected to the switchyard of the Middle-Marsyangdi power plant through an alternative arrangement.

As the construction of the substation has been completed, now the Dordi Corridor Transmission line will be connected to this substation and electricity will be supplied to the switchyard of Middle Marsyangdi. 

Managing Director of NEA Kul Man Ghising said that as electricity would be supplied locally through the 33 kV line from Udipur substation, the electricity supply in that area would be reliable and qualitative.

He said, "Under the project, work is being advanced to complete the construction of the 220 kV transmission line from Udipur to Bharatpur in Chitwan via Markichoke in Tanahun by mid-May 2025. After the construction of the line, it will be more convenient for the supply of electricity generated by the hydropower projects in that area, so the construction of this line has been given high priority and the work has been carried forward."

The Marsyangdi Corridor 220 kV transmission line project has been started for the supply of electricity generated from Marsyangdi and its tributaries to connect into the national grid.

About 1,600 megawatts of electricity can be transmitted through the transmission line. 

Under the project, a 113 km double circuit transmission line from Bharatpur in Chitwan to Dharapani in Manang is under construction.

The project is being divided into three packages. 

The estimated cost of the project under construction is about Rs. 16 billion with the investment of the government and the concessional loan of the European Investment Bank (EIB).