Kathmandu: The construction of long-awaited and strategically very important Dhalkebar substation has been completed. It has become the largest substation in the country, which was in trouble due to negligence of construction contractors and transmission of coronavirus.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority, the substation with a total capacity of 400 KV has been fully charged since Wednesday night.

According to project chief Shukra Devkota, the project has been completed after a long wait. It will pave way for the exchange of 1,200 MW of electricity from both Nepal and India. Electricity of Upper Tamakoshi with a total capacity of 456 MW will also be connected to the same substation and flow east-west.

As the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line has a capacity of 400 KV as the Nepal-India interstate transmission line, a highway has also been constructed for exchanging electricity.

According to NEA, Dhalkebar substation can now be operated at 132, 220 and 400 KV capacity. Similarly, East-West will be able to flow as much electricity as required. As the construction of Upper Tamakoshi and other projects will be completed in the current fiscal year, the way has been paved to send the electricity to India during the rainy season.

The construction of the substation has been completed with Nepali investment and Nepali technology, said Kulman Ghising, former executive director of NEA. NEA had terminated the contract after the Chinese contractor Central China Power Grid Company did not complete it on time.

Even though the construction of the substation was nearing completion in the last week of April, the goods that arrived at Rasuwagadhi customs could not be delivered to the project site due to the risk of coronavirus.

Expressing happiness over the completion of construction of the country’s largest substation, Ghising said that it was a very important achievement for Nepal.

Stating that the construction of the substation, which started in 2075 BS, was expected to be completed while he was in the authority, he said that it was delayed due to Coronavirus.