Photo: TRN Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Kul Man Ghising inspecting substation at Madhesh Province.

The construction of three high-capacity substations under construction in Amlekhgunj and Prasauni in Bara and Birgunj in Parsa has reached the final stage.

The construction of three 132 kV substation which was advanced to make electricity supply regular, sufficient and qualitative in the industrial corridor and general consumer in Bara and Parsa districts has reached the final stage, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.

Managing Director Kul Man Ghising inspected the project sites and directed the project management and contractors to complete the construction of the substation and transmission line as soon as possible.

Stating that the transmission line and substation under construction are important for the management of electricity demand and supply in the Birgunj area and electricity trade with India, Ghising urged them to be sensitive and responsible in such a situation and complete the work on time.

The Amlekhgunj 132/66 kV substation has been prepared to solve the power supply problem of the Pathlaiya-Simara-Birgunj Industrial Corridor and meet the growing demand.

Most of the main equipment in the substation have been installed. The final phase of work is under way to bring the Amlekhgunj substation into operation by May this year, said the NEA.

The work of looping in and out of one circuit of the East-West 132 kV double circuit transmission line into the Amlekhgunj substation has been completed.

Similarly, both circuits of the 66 kV line supplying power to the Simara-Birgunj Industrial Corridor from Hetauda have been looped in and out at the substation. Due to the length and low capacity of the 66 kV line from Hetauda, there was a low voltage problem in the Simara-Birgunj Industrial Corridor.

The length of the 66 kV line will also be reduced and the source of electricity supply from the 132 kV transmission line will be the source of electricity supply. The power supply of the Simara-Birgunj industrial corridor will improve after the Amlekhgunj substation comes into operation.

The substation has power transformers of 132/66 kV 200 MVA and 66/11 kV 20 MVA capacity. There will be six feeders of 11 kV for local power supply.

A 2.8 km 132 kV underground transmission line is being constructed to connect Prasauni and Birgunj substations and these substations.

The work is underway to complete the underground transmission line within a month. Installation of equipment at the substation and work on the remaining civil structures are ongoing, said the NEA.

The Raxaul-Parwanipur 132 kV transmission line between India and Nepal will be looped in and looped out at Prasauni substation. Electricity will be supplied to Birgunj substation through the underground transmission line from that substation. The current 66/33/11 kV substation in Birgunj is being expanded to 132 kV.

After the construction of the substation and transmission line is completed, the Birgunj area will have a source of 132 and 66 kV for electricity supply. Since the 132 and 66 kV substations will be interconnected, electricity supply will be made reliable and of high quality.

Currently, electricity is being supplied from the Birgunj substation to the Kalaiya area of Bara, but after the completion of the Prasauni substation, supply will be provided from there.

This will also reduce the load on the Birgunj substation. Arrangements have been made to have five feeders each of 33 kV and 11 kV for local electricity supply at the Prasauni substation.

The NEA is gradually building high-capacity electricity transmission and distribution line infrastructure targeting industries that are currently operating and will open in the future in the areas of Simara, Nijgadh, Birgunj, Parwanipur, Pokhariya and Prasauni in the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor.

The construction of high-capacity transmission lines and substations has been taken forward so that industries in the Birgunj area can receive electricity supply from the 132 kV transmission line.