About 70% work of 400 kV Bahrabise substation completes

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 2: The construction of a 400 kilovolt (kV) substation in Bahrabise Municipality of Sindhupalchowk is going on in full swing.

The construction of the 400 kV Bahrabise substation has been started to transmit electricity from the hydroelectric projects to be built on the Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi rivers and their tributaries to the national transmission system and to strengthen the system within the country. 

The construction of 220/132 kV and 132/11 kV substations at the same location has been completed.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority, all the equipment of the 400 kV Bahrabise substation based on Gas Insulated System (GIS) technology has been supplied to the construction site. 

The construction of civil structures to be kept power transformers has been completed and is being installed.

The civil structures of building where control room and GIS equipment are to be kept are under construction. The installation of equipment will begin after the construction of civil structures is completed. 

According to the NEA, about 70 per cent work for the construction of the substation has been completed so far. The work is underway to complete the substation construction by mid-June 2025.

Managing Director of NEA Kul Man Ghising on Saturday inspected the substation construction site and urged the project management and contractors to complete the entire work before the stipulated time.

Ghising said, "After the construction of the 400 kV Bahrabise  substation is completed, the electricity from the hydropower projects built in the Balefi and Bhotekoshi river corridors can be supplied to Dhalkebar through the Bahrabise -Khimti 400 kV transmission line at this substation.”

“Additional electricity can be brought to the Kathmandu Valley from Khimti during the winter season, and electricity can be supplied to Dhalkebar during the rainy season and exported to India. Therefore, let's prioritize the construction of the substation and move forward with the remaining work at a fast pace." 

He said that the three substations under construction are Khimti, Bahrabise and Lapsiphedi 400 kV substation project. 

The construction of a 43-kilometer transmission line from the new Khimti substation in Ramechhap to Bahrabise is in the final stage under the Tamakoshi-Kathmandu 220/400 kV transmission line project. 

MD Ghising said that the construction of the Khimti-Bahrabise-Kathmandu transmission line, which has been facing problems such as land use in forest areas, tree cutting, and obstruction by locals, is nearing completion.

Out of the 118 towers on the Khimti-Bahrabise transmission line, 115 towers have been erected. 

The wire has been extended in 36 kilometers. 

The construction work of Khimti-Bahrabise section is underway targeting to bring it into operation by January 2025.

Similarly, a 46-kilometer 400 kV double-circuit transmission line from Bahrabise to Lapsiphedi in Kathmandu is also under construction. Out of the 122 towers on the 46-kilometer transmission line, 118 foundations have been laid while 117 towers have been erected. 

The wire has been extended in 42 kilometers. The NEA said that the construction of remaining towers is moving on fast track.

The Lapsiphedi-Changunarayan 132 kV transmission line has been advanced to transmit electricity flowing through Khimti-Bahrabise-Kathmandu to the Kathmandu Valley. The construction is affected due to obstacles from the locals.

After the construction of the 400 kV transmission line to be built by the US aid project Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), electricity can be transmitted from Lapsiphedi to the New Butwal substation at Bhumahi in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West).