The 50-megawatt Upper Marsyangdi-A Hydropower Project in Bhulbhule of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-8, Lamjung, has produced more than three billion units of electricity.

According to the project, it has produced around 3 billion kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity by Friday evening and connected it to the national transmission system.

The project, which was built in 2013 with 90 per cent investment from Chinese multinational company Sino Hydropower Company and 10 per cent from Nepali Sagarmatha Power Company, began producing electricity in September 2016.

The commercial production was started on January 1, 2017.

Tong Jiangpo, head of the project’s production technology department, said that around 3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity has been connected to the national transmission line.

He said that the project has produced 37.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, exceeding the annual electricity production expectation of 33.5 million kilowatt-hours.

He said that this project has made a good contribution to Nepal’s energy sector.

The run-of-the-river type project has achieved 107 per cent of the annual production plan by generating 374 million units of electricity in 2024.

Out of this, 372 million units have been supplied to the national grid, achieving 117.1 per cent of the annual contracted production.

The electricity generated by the project is being sent to Kathmandu and Pokhara, among other areas.

This has played an important role in reducing the power shortfall seen especially during the dry season.

Dayaram Dahal, an interpreter of the project, said that the project has shown very strong performance in terms of safety and production in the last eight years.

A power purchase agreement (PPA) of the project was signed with the Nepal Electricity Authority in 2052 BS at a cost of USD 7 cents (Rs. 7) per unit.

The project has been constructed at around Rs. 16 billion.

The project itself built a 20-kilometre-long 125 kV transmission line to connect it to the national transmission line.

The project has been supporting development at the local level. The project has developed a 340-metre-long tunnel for local use, a bridge over the Marsyangdi River, and roads at various locations.

Chairman of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality Arjun Gurung said that the tunnel has not only helped locals for the movement around but has also helped promote tourism.

Source: TRN