The Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project has started generating 456 MW of electricity. The project has stated that power generation has started from all the six units on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of Nepal Electricity Authority.
Commercial power generation from four units has already started. “Upper Tamakoshi will start generating 456 MW of power commercially by September 31.” Ganesh Neupane said.
“Right now it’s rainy season and electricity can be generated at full capacity, but we are generating electricity only as per the demand of the NEA’s dispatch center,” he said.
He said that the project was running at full capacity from morning to evening and during peak hours but at night it was run only as per the need. The first test of the project was started on April 29 by pouring water in the tunnel.
However, the test was stopped after water leaked from the manhole cover of the third part of the penstock pipe connecting the lower vertical (273 m) and the upper vertical (310 m). If there is any problem in the penstock, a manhole is constructed so as to carry out repairs.
After that, water leaked from the second audit tunnel and the test was stopped for some time. The project has started production from the first unit on July 5. The first unit (76 MW) was started after the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated virtually by pressing the switch from Baluwatar.
The goal of the project was to start production from the first unit in Chaitra. However, the production date has been postponed due to various problems. The project started in 2068 BS and was targeted to be completed in 2072 BS.
The construction was delayed due to catastrophic earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks and floods, lack of construction materials follwed by Madhes movement and Indian blockade, problems in transportation and fuel supply, design changes, poor performance of hydromechanical (Lot 2) contractors.
The contract for Lot 2 was awarded to the Indian company Texmaco Rail and Engineering. Due to the poor performance of the company, the production and connection of hydro-mechanical equipments including penstock pipes of the dam have been delayed which affected the overall construction work of the project. The contract has been awarded to the contractor of Electromechanical (Lot 3) without any financial burden.
Rolwaling Project 22 MW
As soon as the construction of Upper Tamakoshi is completed, the promoter company Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower is constructing a 22 MW Rolwaling project.
According to spokesperson Neupane, the work of access road construction and environmental impact assessment has reached the final stage. “Work is underway to go for tender for the construction of the project after Dasain and Tihar festival,” he said.
After the completion of the 22 MW Rolwaling , Tamakoshi can be operated at full capacity (456 MW) for at least 6 hours in winter. At present, most of the time in the rainy season, it runs at 456 MW, but it is operated during the day and night as required.
