Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is set to construct eight high capacity substations to improve the power transmission and distribution system of Kathmandu Valley. Substations of 400, 200 and 132 KV capacities are under construction in the valley.

In order to cope with the increasing electricity demand with the increased population density, the authority has set a deadline of 2050 and advanced the process of construction of transmission and distribution infrastructure in the major areas of the valley in a phased manner.

The highest demand for electricity in Kathmandu Valley by the year 2050 is projected to reach 3,100 megawatts. According to the said demand, the construction process of 20 more new substations has been advanced to supply energy. The authority said that the land acquisition process for the construction of the substation has been started. A survey is being carried out to construct a 220 kV ring with 220 kV transmission structures encircling the outer perimeter of the valley.

Substations are under construction at Lapsiphedi, Matatirtha, Chobhar, Futung, Teku, Mulpani and Thimi and Changunarayan in Kathmandu Valley. The construction of Teku and Changunarayan substations has reached its final stage. Both substations are being constructed to be put into operation by June.

Kulman Ghising, the managing director of the authority, said that the construction of substation has been started to meet the increasing demand of electricity in Kathmandu Valley, to make the supply reliable and quality.

He instructed the project management and construction professionals to complete the construction within the stipulated time after making a monitoring visit to Teku, Futung and Changunarayan substations which are currently under construction.

"In the winter of this year, the demand for electricity in Kathmandu Valley did not increase so much, due to this, it became easier to manage the supply of electricity. Considering the winter of next year, the construction of the substation should be completed before that," he said

The 66/11 KV substation at Teku is being strengthened to 132/11 KV and a new 132/11 KV substation is being constructed at Futung. Two power transformers of 45/45 MVA capacity will be placed in both substations. Balaju-Chapli 132 KV double circuit transmission line will be 'tapping' at Futung substation to supply electricity to that area.

Similarly, nine new feeders will be taken out from Teku substation for local power supply, which will facilitate the power supply of the central part of Kathmandu.

To make the power supply of Kathmandu valley reliable, projects such as construction of new substations, automation of existing substations, undergrounding of electric wires, addition and strengthening of new feeders and transformers are being implemented at present.

Improvement of transmission and distribution system has been advanced with the investment of Nepal government and NEA, concessional loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The process of construction of 132/11 KV substation in Chobhar has been advanced after the construction of Thankot-Chapagaon-Bhaktapur 132 KV transmission line, which is considered important for improving the electricity supply of the valley, was interrupted in Khokna, Bungmati, Harisidhi and Lamatar areas of Lalitpur. The substation will have two power transformers of 45 MVA capacity.

The process of acquisition of 12 ropani land required for construction of substation on the land of Himal Cement near the dry port is progressing. A 132 KV transmission line has been constructed from Matatirtha to Chobhar.

A substation will be constructed in Chobhar and a 132kV underground line will be built to Lalitpur's Lagankhel substation through the ring road. Lagankhel substation is being strengthened and made 132kV. Then in the coming days, the line will be taken underground from there to Chapagaon and Harsiddhi. In Lalitpur area, electricity is being supplied from Suchatar-Patan-Baneshwar 66 KV line. This line is already 'overloaded'.

Meanwhile, the construction of Lapsiphedi 400 and 220/132/11 KV substations could not be started due to local obstruction. Lapsiphedi substation is going to be constructed to distribute the electricity of the hydroelectric projects built in Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi river catchment area in Kathmandu valley. There is a local obstacle in the construction of about 10 km transmission line from Lapsiphedi to Changunarayan substation.