Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is investing Rs 420 million to rejuvenate 15 MW Gandak Hydropower Center (GHC), which has reached a death bed due to lack of maintenance.

The GHC, established under Nepal-India cooperation, started producing electricity in April, 1979. “As the installed equipment is old enough to run in its full capacity, we have initiated rehabilitation and modernization of the center,” said NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising.

Located in Suryapura of Pratappur-7 in Nawalparasi district, the GHC has three turbines in its power house, each with capacity to produce 5 MW of electricity. Of them, only two turbines are in operation. Most of the structures including turbines and electromechanical equipment are in dire straits.

According to the NEA, its consultant NEA Engineering Company Limited has already finalized the detailed designs and cost estimates related to overall maintenance of the GHC’s infrastructure. Ghising said they will call for a tender soon to carry forward the maintenance works.

The GHC has built a dam across Narayani River in the area of Nepal-India border. India maintains water supply for irrigation also from the collected water. Electricity produced by the hydropower project is supplied to Ramnagar of India and Bardaghat substation of Nepal.

Nepal has been importing around 40 MW of electricity through the 132/33 kV Gandak substation. NEA has been supplying this imported electricity through 33 kV double circuit transmission line stretches that connect the Parasi area.

Meanwhile, NEA is constructing a 6 MW solar electricity project on 9.7 bigha land of the GHC located in Bardaghat-Susta West of Nawalparasi district. Apart from this, the state-owned power utility has planned to build 9 MW solar power projects in Madhya Marsyangdi of Lamjung and Jhuprakhola Small Hydropower Center in Surkhet district.

The total estimated cost of these solar power projects is 11.5 million euro. Out of the amount, Germany will be providing six million euro in grants while the NEA and the government will invest the remaining amount.