KATHMANDU: Nepal’s largest hydropower project, the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Plant, has partially resumed electricity generation after being out of operation for 88 days. The plant, which sustained damage from landslides triggered by continuous rainfall on September 27 and 28, resumed production at 7:40 PM on Tuesday after partial repairs were completed. Currently, the plant is generating 120 MW of electricity by fully utilizing the available water flow in the river.
Electricity production at the plant was halted on the evening of September 27 when the water flow in the Tamakoshi River surged due to relentless rainfall. The next day’s landslides caused severe damage to critical structures, including the control room, sedimentation pond (desander), and the underground culvert that channels water from the dam to the desander. Large rocks blocked a 300-meter access road leading from the Gongar powerhouse to the Lamabagar dam site, which had to be cleared using explosives. Additionally, the No. 46 tower of the Gongar-Khimti 220kV transmission line sustained damage, further complicating the situation.
Partial Repairs and Resumption of Operations
The left-side desander has been partially repaired, allowing electricity generation to commence a day ahead of the original schedule. Repairs involved dismantling the old concrete walls of the desander and addressing cracks in the culvert’s walls and ceiling through grouting. The power plant is currently operating as a run-of-river system, while ongoing repairs aim to restore its full capacity.
Once the remaining repair work on the desander is completed, water can be stored during low-demand periods to enable full-capacity generation for four hours during peak demand times in the morning and evening. The company plans to complete these repairs by the end of the Nepali month of Poush (mid-January).
Overcoming Challenges Amid Adversity
Kulman Ghising, Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority and Chairman of the promoter company, Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited, highlighted the collective efforts that enabled the restoration of the plant. “Despite the accumulation of debris, the lack of an access road, and the tragic loss of two company employees and two security personnel in the landslide, we overcame these challenges to partially resume electricity generation,” Ghising said. He added that the plant’s resumption would ease electricity supply management and reduce reliance on imports from India, especially during peak demand periods.
Mohan Prasad Gautam, CEO of the company, emphasized the collaborative approach taken to expedite repairs. “We incorporated recommendations from the board of directors and experts to implement repair strategies, achieving results ahead of schedule,” Gautam stated. The tender process for repairing the right-side desander has already been initiated, with work expected to be completed before the next monsoon season.
Insurance and Financial Recovery
The damaged structures are fully insured, and the company has filed an initial insurance claim of NPR 1.78 billion. A joint assessment by the company and the insurer, Rastriya Beema Company, is underway to finalize the exact compensation amount. Additionally, the company is set to receive insurance payments covering three months of lost revenue, with two months’ compensation already guaranteed under the insurance agreement.
The resumption of electricity generation from Upper Tamakoshi marks a significant step toward stabilizing Nepal’s electricity supply while ensuring the continued progress of the hydropower sector amidst challenges.