The work of testing load flow from the Nepali side has been completed. The test is a necessary step toward the import and export of electricity from China after the construction of the inter-country transmission line, according to Nepal Electricity Authority.

Under the inspection and direction of NEA, the System Planning Department completed the test of load flow in a month. As per the result, Nepal and China can export and import 3,000 megawatt electricity after the construction of the inter-country transmission line is completed.

According to Ratomate-Rasuwagadhi-Kerung 400 KV Transmission Project, the project has tested load flow from two points with India and one point with China. The study was conducted at Dhalkebar and Gorakhpur points of India and Rasuwagadhi-Kerung point of China.

According to Komalnath Atreya, project head, after the construction of the project, 3,000 megawatt electricity can be imported and exported from both countries. The outbreak of coronavirus in China has affected the work on the Chinese side. Due to the outbreak, the load flow test which needs to be done together has been delayed.

“The technical team had studied about flow all over Nepal and also studied about initial flow of megawatt,” said Atreya, “The work of load flow test from the Chinese side has not been started, so it will take some time for the test to be conducted.”

State Grid of China will study load flow on the Chinese side. After the study has been completed from both sides, study of load flow will be conducted together. Both sides will construct the Detailed Project Report (DPR) together after the test. According to the project, the transmission line will have a flow of 5,000 megawatt electricity.

China will purchase electricity produced from Nepal after the construction of the transmission line. This is the first inter-country transmission line with China. Nepal can also sell electricity to Bangladesh after the construction of the transmission line.

According to the project officials, Nepal will have 400 KV double circuits and China will have 500 KV double circuits. The project has already completed the pre-feasibility study from Kerung of China to Ratomate of Nepal.

The transmission line consists of 214 towers. The draft report of possibility study was provided in March, 2019. The study report consisted of number of towers, place where towers are installed, river areas, national park areas and required land.

Nepal will construct the sub-station in Ratomate and China will construct the sub-station in Xinlong County, Tibet. The distance of the transmission line between the Rasuwagadhi border point and Ratomate is 70 kilometers. The inter-country transmission line is expected to be completed within six years.

This is the first inter-country transmission line with China whereas transmission lines with India are already connected in 11 places. The Chinese government is planning to expand transmission lines in seven continents within 2030 under its Belt and Road Initiative.