20 more planned

As urbanization increases, authorities are constructing six substations to ensure a sufficient, reliable, high-quality, and safe electricity supply in the Kathmandu Valley. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is building six 132/11 kV substations at various locations in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur to improve the valley's transmission and distribution system.

The NEA has stated that the Teku substation in Kathmandu is already operational, while the Changu Narayan substation in Bhaktapur is ready and only needs to be energized. The Phutung and Mulpani substations are in the final stages, with work ongoing to bring them into operation within the next two months.

The NEA is constructing the Chobhar substation, planned to be operational by mid-July, and the Thimi substation in Bhaktapur will be operational within eight months. Each substation has a capacity of 90/90 MVA. Once completed and operational, these substations will allow the valley to handle an additional 500 megawatts of electricity. Currently, the electricity demand in the Kathmandu Valley is around 500 megawatts.

To address the potential future demand increase, the NEA has set a 2050 deadline and is constructing transmission and distribution infrastructure in key areas of the Kathmandu Valley in multiple phases. The valley's electricity demand is projected to reach a maximum of 3,100 megawatts by 2050. As a result, the NEA has begun building 20 new substations at 220, 132, 33, and 11 kV levels.

The NEA has completed land acquisition for the substations. It has also finished preparatory works, including surveys, for constructing a 220 kV ring around the Kathmandu Valley's outer perimeter. The Lapsiphedi substation, under construction in the Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi river basin areas, will supply electricity from hydropower projects to the Kathmandu Valley at 400/220, 220/132, and 132/11 kV levels.

The NEA is working on projects to improve the electricity supply system's reliability by constructing new substations, automating existing ones, undergrounding power lines, adding new feeders and transformers, and strengthening the system. Managing Director Kulman Ghising inspected the under-construction substations on Friday and urged that construction be completed quickly to meet the growing electricity demand in the Kathmandu Valley and ensure a reliable, high-quality supply.

He stated that once all the under-construction substations become operational, managing electricity demand and supply in Kathmandu will be much easier, resulting in a more reliable and higher-quality electricity supply.

To improve electricity supply in the southeastern region of Kathmandu, authorities are finalizing the construction of a 132/11 kV substation at Mulpani in Kageshwori Manohara Municipality. They plan to connect the Chhapali-Bhaktapur 132 kV transmission line to the Mulpani substation to supply electricity. The substation has set up eight 11 kV feeders to supply electricity to areas such as Jadibuti, Pepsi Cola, Kandaghari, Gothatar, Mulpani, Jorpati, Sanghu, and Thimi. NEA expects the substation to become operational by mid-April.

The NEA is also finalizing the construction of a new 132/11 kV substation at Phutung. They plan to tap into the Balaju-Chhapali 132 kV double-circuit transmission line at the Phutung substation to supply electricity to the area. Once operational, the substation will significantly improve electricity supply to areas like Balaju, Nepaltar, and Goldhunga.

To improve electricity supply in the Kathmandu Valley, authorities have constructed a 132/11 kV substation in Chobhar, Kathmandu, due to construction delays in the Khokana, Bungmati, Harisiddhi, and Lamatar areas of the Thankot-Chapagaun-Bhaktapur 132 kV transmission line. The substation will receive electricity from the Mata Tirtha substation. NEA aims to make the substation operational by mid-July, 2025.

The authorities plan to extend a 132 kV underground line from the Chobhar substation via Chakrapath to the Lagankhel substation in Lalitpur. They will reinforce and upgrade the Lagankhel substation to a 132 kV station. The NEA has planned to lay underground lines from there to Chapagaun and Harisiddhi.

The Government of Nepal, the NEA, and concessional loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the World Bank are funding the improvement of the transmission and distribution system.