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Generation Business Group
 

Management of construction, operation and maintenance activities of power generating stations of NEA is the key responsibility of the Generation business group headed by the General Manager. Currently, sixteen hydropower stations and two major thermal power plants with total installed capacity of 398.39 MW and 53.41 MW respectively are in operation under this business group. There are three departments, namely, Operation and Maintenance Department, Generation Construction Department and Kaligandaki-A Hydropower Department under this business group each of which is headed by a Director.
Performance-wise, a total of 1,749.859 GWh of energy was generated in FY 2006/07 which is an increase of 11.26% compared to the generation of previous FY.Annual Load Factor of 91%, annual Plant Factor of 44.21% and Productivity Ratio of 1,301.01 MWh per employee were registered in FY 2006/07.
 

Operation and Maintenance Department
All the activities related to the operation and maintenance of the power stations under the business group excluding Kaligandaki-A hydropower station are managed by this Department. Emphasis is placed on timely detection and rectification of problems so as to maximize the availability of power stations.
In Gandak hydropower station, the problem of Stator overheating in the Generator No. 1 was rectified under the supervision of this Department. During FY 2006/07, turbine runners of Trishuli, Modi, Marsyangdi, Gandak and Sunkoshi hydropower stations were overhauled. New circuit breakers were installed in Devighat, Sunkoshi and Chatara hydropower stations. Similarly, a 6.6/1 32 kV, 10 MVA power transformer was installed in Gandak

hydropower station to enable the evacuation of available capacity to the Grid. Similarly, a 132/33 kV, 12/15 MVA power transformer was installed in Modi hydropower station. This measure has solved the overloading problem of transformer in the power station and also improved the quality of power supply to Parbat, Baglung and Myagdi districts. The damaged Unit No. 2 of Kulekhani-ll Hydroelectric Station is being refurbished.
The historic Pharping hydropower station was again synchronized with national Grid on December 20, 2006 (2063/09/05 B.S.) after a gap of 24 years. The power station could not be put into full-fledged continuous operation owing to the reason that use of water resource for drinking is assigned higher priority than power generation according to the state policy and as such the discharge in the Sheshnarayan and Sat Mule rivulets is diverted for supplying drinking water to part of Laltipur district. At present, the power station is operated only for about an hour each day primarily to keep the station in working condition.
 

Kaligandaki-A Hydropower Department
During FY 2006/07, a total of 707.7 GWh of energy was generated from Kaligandaki-A hydropower station which is an increase of 13.90% over the preceding year’s generation from the power station. In this fiscal year, various repair and maintenance works in the spillway gates, intake, under-sluice gate, desander flushing radial gates and trash rack cleaner were carried out. Similarly, overhauling of Unit No. 1 turbine was successfully completed under the supervision of a technical advisor from TOSHIBA Corporation (Japan). Generator, power transformer and protective relays of the same Unit were also tested in the period. The damaged power transformer of Unit No. 3 was replaced on March
21, 2007 (2063/12/07 B.S.).

 

Generation Construction Department
In FY 2006/07, the Generation Construction Department started construction work of two medium sized Hydroelectric Projects (HEP5): 30 MW Chameliya HEP and 14 MW Kulekhani - Ill HEP. Chameliya Hydroelectric Project Construction of Chameliya HEP, a daily peaking run-off-river (PROR) scheme with an installed capacity of 30 MW, was started in FY 2006/07. The Project lies about 950 km west of Kathmandu on Chameliya river, a tributary of Mahakali river Darchula district.
The Project will lead to balanced economic development in the Far Western Development Region. Main features of the Project are 54 m high concrete dam with two 13.5m high radial gates, underground desander with two basins, 4067
long headrace tunnel, 49.8m high restricted orifice type surge tank, 461 m long penstock and semi- underground powerhouse with two units of each
15.3 MW vertical shaft Francis turbine. The generated power from the Project will be evacuated through 131 km long 132 kV transmission line connecting Attariya Substation at Kailali district.
Out of the 18km long access road, earthwork and structural works of 17 km length have been completed. The construction of four of the seven bridges has been completed. The EIA study of the Project has been approved while that of the 132 kV transmission line is underway for approval by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MOEST). The estimated cost of the Project is US$ 78.9 million including the cost of the 132 kV transmission line. China Gezhouba Water and Power (Group) Co. Limited (CGGC) was awarded the Civil Contract and construction works started from 10th January 2007. Tenders for camp facility, 33 kV substation and 33 kV transmission line are under progress. Government of Nepal has requested the Government of Republic of Korea and OPEC for providing soft loans for electro-mechanical & transmission line components.
As per a recent decision of NEA, this Project is now headed by a Project Director who reports directly to the General Manager of the business group.

Birds Eye View of Chameiiya HEP Camp Site

Bridge foundation work of Kuiekhani - III HEP

 

Kulekhani-l II Hydroelectric Project
Kulekhani-lll (KL-lll) HEP is the tailrace scheme of KL-ll HEP. As Kulekhani (I and II combined) is the only storage scheme now available in the Integrated Nepal Power System (IN PS), KL-lll HEP with a capacity of 14 MW will help to add the much needed peaking power to the system. Detailed design of this Project was completed in FY 2006/07. Good accessibility, short transmission line, minimal environmental and social impacts are favorable aspects of the Project. Estimated construction period is about 44 months and the average annual energy generation of the Project is estimated at 40.85 GWh. The EIA study of the Project has already been approved. The construction works of the access road and the access bridge over the Rapti River are in progress. The Project has been found technically, financially and environmentally viable. NEA plans to use internal resources for the construction of the Project. NEA has recently called for pre-qualification for construction of the main civil works. The total estimated cost of the Project is NRs. 2,216.00 million.
 

Middle Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project
Middle Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project, with an installed capacity of 70 MW is a peaking run-of- river project and is located in Lumjung district. It is the major project being constructed by NEA at present. It will have an average annual generation of 398 GWh. The power generated from this Project will be evacuated through a 41 km single circuit 132 kV transmission line to existing Marsyangdi Power Station.

 

Project Cost
The Project is being jointly funded by the Government of Germany through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the Government of Nepal (G0N) and NEA. The Consultant Fichtner JV (FJV) estimated the Project cost in year 2000 as US$ 181.27 million equivalent to Euro 212 million at the exchange rate of 1 US$ = Euro 1.17. After agreements with the Contractors of all the Lots, the base cost was Euro 149.90 million. But due to changes in the design, provision for claims and price escalations, the cost has been increased and accordingly updated in January 2007 to Euro 273.41 million.
 

Upstream View of Diversion Weir -Middle Marsyangdi HEP

Middle Marsyangdi Power House nearing Completion


Progress Status
Dywidag-Dragados-CWE JV (DDC JV), the Contractor for Civil Works (Lot-C), commenced the civil work from June 25, 2001. To date most of the underground works have been completed. The tunnel excavation works have been completed and 89 % of concrete lining works has been accomplished. Currently, concreting works at intake, spillway piers, chutes and wing walls are under progress. Concreting of surge tank and penstock are being carried out. Most of the civil works of power house has been completed. About 95% of architectural finishing of powerhouse and 70% of service building have been completed. Installation of penstock steel lining has also been almost completed. Construction of switchyard and hydro mechanical works are being carried out. Most of installation works involving the turbine-generator units and its alignment with shaft have been completed. The concrete works of 132 kV transmission line tower are in progress. The resettlement works at various construction sites are going on. The Project carried out various trainings on income generating activities, as well as awareness program on public health and safety to the members of the project affected families and local people. The Neighborhood Support Program (NSP) is supporting the development activities of ten Village Development Committees (VDC) in the vicinity of the Project area.
The Project work was delayed due to security reasons, dispute with the contractor, strikes and changes in the design in the past. The work in drainage gallery was delayed due to the issues related with insurance coverage. Despite the numerous challenges faced, construction of the Project is being undertaken at faster pace in order to make up for the past delays. NEA is committed to complete the Project at the earliest so as to augment the generation capacity of the Integrated Nepal Power System (INPS) and give relief to its valuable customers from the prevailing shortage of power.

 

Chilime Hydropower Company Limited
 

Chilime Hydropower Company Limited (CHPCL) is a subsidiary company of NEA with 51% equity ownership. The Company was established in 1996 with the objective of promoting the utilization of resources within the country for the development of hydropower. Chilime Hydroelectric Project with installed capacity of 22.1 MW and located at Rasuwa district was built and commissioned by this Company on August 25, 2003 (2060/5/8 BS). This Project is now in fourth year of commercial operation. The Project has delivered 528.63 GWh of electrical energy to NEA since August 2003. In FY 2006/07, the Project was successful in delivering 104.5% of the Contract Energy to NEA. NEA has invested NRs. 489.6 million in the Project and has received the dividend of 10%, 20% and 35% of its equity shares in the FY 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 respectively. In FY 2006/07, 25% of the equity shares were distributed to NEA staff. The shareholders received 35% dividend in that year. CHPCL is now executing three more hydroelectric projects which are at various stages of development. The feasibility study of two projects, Upper Sanjen Hydroelectric Project (11 MW) and Sanjen Hydroelectric Project (35 MW) have been completed and application has been submitted for the power purchase agreement with NEA. Both of these Projects are located upstream of the existing Chilime HEP. Local people in the project area are very eager to participate in the implementation of these Projects. A Letter of Intent for financing in Upper Sanjen HEP has already been received from Citizen Investment Trust. Construction of these two Projects will be started as soon as the construction license is issued by the Ministry of Water Resources.
CHPCL has also completed the feasibility study of Middle Bhotekoshi Hydroelectric Project (80 MW) located in Sindhupalchok district. Local people of Sindhupalchowk district and other organizations will be participating in the development of this Project. CHPCL is committed to develop more of medium and large scale hydroelectric projects in future with greater participation from various sector in the country.


Switchyard and Adit to Powerhouse, CHPCL