KATHMANDU, Sept 29: An additional 27 megawatt of hydroelectric power will be added to the national grid from January next year. The additional power will be added to the national grid after the completion of Dordi Khola Hydropower Project within January next year.

The project is currently being developed by Himalayan Power Partner Limited, a private-owned power developer.

“Ninety five percent of works related to the project including construction of tunnel, laying pipelines, power plant, and reservoir have been completed. We hope that we will be able to generate power and get connected to the national grid within coming January,” Project Manager of Dordi Khola Hydropower Project Munna Shakya said.

According to Shakya, now works related to setting up machines are underway. Dordi Khola is estimated to cost Rs 3.8 billion funded jointly by Non-Resident Nepali Association (36 percent), local people (30 percent) and IME group (34 percent).

The project was expected to be completed by August 31, 2018. It has been delayed owing to India’s economic blockade (2015) and damages caused by floods last year.

The deadline for project construction was extended to March/April this year. However, the deadline was extended for the second time to June/July this year. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project construction deadline has been extended for the third time.

Four hydropower projects are currently being built along the Dordi Corridor in Lamjung. Around a dozen hydro electric projects are currently being constructed in the district.