ADB representatives, NEA inspect Tanahun Hydro

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 11: A high-level team of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Nepal Electricity Authority has visited the Tanahun Hydropower Project with a reservoir of 140 MW installed capacity under construction on the Seti River in Tanahun.

The team, comprising Country Director of ADB Nepal Resident Mission Arnaud Cauchois and Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority and chairman of board of directors of Tanahun Hydropower Limited Kul Man Ghising, conducted an on-site monitoring of the project on Monday and received information about the construction progress.

The team monitored the construction of the 140-meter-high main dam under Package-1, the underground power house, hydromechanical and electromechanical equipment, and the main tunnel construction site under Package-2.

The team also discussed issues such as additional land acquisition in the buffer zone of the project, problems with public land with Chief District Officer of Tanahun Shyam Krishna Thapa, Assistant Chief District Officer, Chief of the Survey Office, and representatives of the Land Revenue Office. 

Stating that ADB has special interest in the implementation and technical aspects of the environmental and social safeguards implemented by the project, ADB Country Director Cauchois urged the concerned bodies to resolve the current problems immediately and complete the construction within the stipulated time and quality.

Managing Director of NEA Ghising said that all parties should take responsibility for completing the project within the stipulated time as the Tanahun Hydro Project, which is a reservoir-based project, will make a great contribution and support in eliminating the imbalance of electricity demand and supply during the dry season.

Stating that the construction of power plants, transmission lines and other structures is in the final stage, though the construction of the dam is challenging and sensitive, Ghising directed the concerned parties to take forward the work by giving special priority to the construction of the dam. The overall progress of the project under construction is 63 per cent, divided into three packages. The overall construction is targeted to be completed by May 2026.

A 140-meter-high main dam will be constructed on the Seti River, which flows through the border of Rishing Rural Municipality-1 and Vyas Municipality-5.  Under Package-1, grouting is being done in the lower-level area of the main dam and the construction of the main dam is going to start soon, said the NEA. 

The construction progress of Package-1 is about 36 per cent. The construction of Package-1 is being done by Song Da Corporation, Vietnam-Kalika Construction Private Limited and Nepal JV. Under Package-2 of the project, a 1,493-meter-long dam will be constructed starting from the reservoir intake to the penstock pipe location. 

The long tunnel is being ‘broken through’ and concrete lining is being done. 

The second phase construction including the project’s tunnel, powerhouse construction and import, supply and installation and operation of hydromechanics and electromechanical equipment is being done by the Sino Hydro, China.

According to the NEA, the construction of the civil structure of the power house is in the final stage. 

The overall physical progress of this package is about 62 per cent.

Under the third package of the project, the construction work of a 220 KV double-circuit transmission line from Damauli to Bharatpur in Chitwan is being done by KEC, India. 

The total cost of the project is 505 million US dollars. 

Of that, Asian Development Bank will bear US$ 150 million, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) US$ 184 million, European Investment Bank US$ 85 million and the Government of Nepal/Nepal Electricity Authority US$ 86.