The construction of a 132-kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line from Arghakhanchi’s Sandhikharka Municipality-6 (Fudwang) to Gulmi’s Resunga Municipality-7, Unayichaur (Tamghas), has been completed. Additionally, under the same transmission line project, the 132 kV Tamghas Substation in Unayichaur has also been constructed.”

Nepal Electricity Authority has completed the construction of approximately 16 kilometers of 132 kV double-circuit transmission line from Sandhikharka to Tamghas and the 132 kV Tamghas Substation, and brought them into operation starting Wednesday. The substation is equipped with 132/33 kV, 30 MVA and 33/11 kV, 16 MVA power transformers. The transmission line is capable of transmitting around 200 megawatts of electricity.

From the substation, three 33 kV feeders and four 11 kV feeders have been constructed for local electricity supply. Among them, two of the 33 kV and two of the 11 kV feeders have been brought into operation for local electricity supply.

After the transmission lines and substations were brought into operation under the direction of NEA’s Managing Director Kulman Ghising, it was emphasized that electricity supply in Gulmi District would be abundant and of high quality, with fewer technical glitches.

A tender has been issued for 40 megawatts solar projects to be connected through the same transmission line, and when integrating other private sector hydroelectric projects, this transmission line will serve as the trunk line for that area.

Electricity supply from Butwal to Palpa, Arghakhanchi, and Gulmi was being delivered via a 33 kV transmission line. Due to the extended length of the 33 kV transmission line, there were frequent line trips causing intermittent power outages and voltage problems. Additionally, there were technical glitches.

Since the operation of the 132 kV double-circuit transmission line from Motipur, Kapilvastu to Sandhikharka in Arghakhanchi and the construction of the 132 kV Sandhikharka Substation starting from Chaitra 2078 BS, electricity supply had been reaching Gulmi from the same substation. The 33 kV line from Sandhikharka Substation, shorter compared to the one from Butwal, had not ensured sufficient and high-quality electricity supply to Gulmi. Now, with electricity supply from Tamghas Substation, where the lines are shorter, the area’s electricity supply is expected to be sufficient and of good quality.

Under the organization of the Burtibang-Poudi-Amarai-Tamghas-Sandhikharka-Gorusinge 132 kV transmission line project, the Sandhikharka-Tamghas transmission line and Tamghas Substation have been constructed. Similarly, under the same project, the construction of the Motipur Substation of 132 kV in Ban Ganga Municipality-7, Kapilvastu, and the line from the same substation to Sandhikharka, along with the construction of the Sandhikharka Substation, has been completed and is operational. Furthermore, under the project, a 132 kV transmission line will be extended from Tamghas to Poudi Amarai, reaching up to Burtibang, and construction is underway for the Poudi Amarai and Burtibang substations.

Construction of both substations is in the final phase. Project leader Manoj Chaudhary mentioned that the construction of transmission lines has been affected due to issues with tree cutting. He noted that all towers for the Tamghas-Poudi Amarai transmission line have been constructed, but approval for tree cutting has not been obtained, delaying the stringing of wires. This delay, according to Chaudhary, has prevented the commissioning of the Poudi Amarai Substation.

The estimated cost of the Burtibang-Poudi-Amarai-Tamghas-Sandhikharka-Gorusinge 132 kV transmission line project is USD 39.5 million. The project was initiated with investment from the Nepal government and the Electricity Authority. As part of integrating into this transmission line, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 130 megawatts of electricity have been signed with seven private sector hydroelectric projects.