Six substations being built in Kathmandu Valley to improve electricity supply

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 2: Six substations are under construction to make the power supply within the Kathmandu Valley enough, reliable, qualitative and safe. 

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is constructing six substations of 132/11 kV at various locations in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur to improve the electricity transmission and distribution system within the valley.

Of these, the Teku substation in Kathmandu has already come into operation. 

Similarly, the construction of substations at Phutung and Mulpani are in the final stages.  According to the NEA, the final stage works are being carried out to bring both the substations into operation within two months. 

The construction of the Changunarayan substation in Bhaktapur has been completed and is being brought into operation shortly.

Likewise, the Chobhar substation is being constructed to be operational by mid-July 2025 and the Thimi substation in Bhaktapur within eight months.

The capacity of each substation is 90 MVA. Once the substations are completed and operational, the infrastructure to supply additional around 500 megawatts of electricity will be ready in the Kathmandu Valley, said the NEA. 

The current electricity demand in the Kathmandu Valley is around 500 megawatts.

To address the possible demand for electricity that may increase in the future, the NEA has set a deadline of 2050 and has taken forward the process of constructing transmission and distribution infrastructure in different areas of the Kathmandu Valley in a phased manner. 

Projecting that the peak demand for electricity in the Kathmandu Valley will reach 3,100 megawatts by 2050, the NEA has advanced the process of constructing 20 new substations of 220 kV, 132 kV, 33 kV and 11 kV capacities.

The land has been acquired for the construction of the substations, said the NEA.  The preliminary preparatory work, including surveying, has been completed to construct a 220 kV ring around the outer perimeter of the Kathmandu Valley with the 220 kV transmission structure.

The Lapsiphedi substation of 400/220, 220/132 and 132/11 kV capacities is under construction to supply electricity to the Kathmandu Valley from the hydroelectric projects built in the Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi river basins.

The projects such as construction of new substations, automation of the existing substations, putting underground the electrical wires and strengthening of new feeders and transformers are being implemented to make the electricity supply reliable, qualitative and modern in the Kathmandu Valley.

Managing Director of NEA Kul Man Ghising on Friday inspected the substations under construction and urged for completion of construction as soon as possible to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the Kathmandu Valley and to make the supply reliable and qualitative. 

He said that once all the substations under construction are operational, the management of electricity demand and supply in Kathmandu will be much easier and the electricity supply will be more reliable and qualitative.

Under the Thankot-Chapagaun-Bhaktapur 132 kV transmission line, which is considered important for improving the electricity supply in the Kathmandu Valley, a 132/11 kV substation has been constructed in Chobhar, Kathmandu after construction was protested in Khokana, Bungmati, Harisiddhi and Lamatar areas of Lalitpur. 

Electricity will be supplied to the substation from Matatirtha Substation. Work is underway with the aim of bringing the substation into operation by mid-July 2025.

A 132 kV underground line will be constructed from the Chobhar substation through the Ring Road and taken to the Lagankhel substation in Lalitpur. The Lagankhel substation is being strengthened and made 132 kV. 

The transmission and distribution system reform is being carried out with investment from the government of Nepal and the NEA, and concessional loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank.