KATHMANDU: The repair schedule for Nepal’s largest hydropower project, the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, has been finalized, with plans to resume power generation by December 25, 2024 (Poush 10, 2081 BS). The project, located in Bigu Rural Municipality-1, Lamabagar, Dolakha, had been halted following significant damage caused by landslides triggered by heavy rainfall on September 27-28, 2024 (Ashoj 11-12, 2081 BS).
The landslides severely damaged the dam area’s structures, including the control room, sand-settling basins (desanders), and the culvert carrying water from the dam to the desanders. Among the two desanders, the left-side desander is undergoing repairs, with its damaged walls being demolished and reconstructed. Simultaneously, cracks in the culvert’s walls and ceiling are being grouted. The right-side desander and the surface-level control room are also set for repairs, with plans to rebuild the control room underground before the next monsoon.
The repair work is being executed under the direction of the project’s promoter, Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited, led by Chairman Kulman Ghising, who is also the Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The repair schedule was devised during an on-site inspection by Ghising, board members, and the project’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohan Prasad Gautam. The team emphasized completing repairs in time to meet the growing electricity demand during peak hours.
“The failure to bring the Upper Tamakoshi back online by the stipulated deadline could lead to challenges in managing domestic electricity demand,” Ghising said. He urged stakeholders to handle the repairs with urgency and sensitivity.
To address immediate electricity needs, repairs to one of the transmission towers damaged during the landslide have already been completed. The repaired infrastructure will allow the plant to operate at full capacity during the four-hour peak demand periods. However, the inability to run the powerhouse during winter could create challenges in balancing electricity demand and supply internally.
Ghising also highlighted the challenges posed by limited electricity import permissions from India. Nepal currently has approval to import electricity only during daytime and nighttime hours until March 2025. If the Upper Tamakoshi is not operational, meeting peak morning and evening demand during winter will be difficult.
The decision to stop power generation and open all dam gates on September 27 prevented further damage to critical infrastructure. NEA has committed to expediting repairs to ensure that electricity generation resumes as scheduled, avoiding potential disruptions to Nepal’s energy supply chain.
CEO Gautam assured that all necessary measures are being taken to adhere to the repair schedule, emphasizing the project’s strategic importance in meeting Nepal’s winter energy needs.