NEA compelled to import 300 MW of electricity to manage supply

At least 20 hydropower plants suffered damages due to floods and landslides triggered by the incessant rainfall in the past two days, which has led to the disruption in power supply across the country.

As a result of the devastation caused by the natural disasters, the Nepal Electricity Authority which was exporting over 500 MW of electricity on a daily basis to India during this monsoon instead has had to rely on imported electricity to meet the market demand. The NEA Spokesperson Chandan Kumar Ghosh said they imported 300 MW of electricity from India on Saturday.

The NEA reported that around 3,000 MW of electricity was being produced in Nepal until last week. The recent flooding and landslides over the past two days have reduced current production to only 1,300 MW.

According to the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), a total of 1,177 MW of electricity out of 15 power projects has been completely halted since Saturday. These projects have sustained damages worth Rs 2.31 billion. Floods inflicted damages on powerhouses, transmission lines, access roads and other structures of the power projects.

The disasters damaged the headbox and powerhouse of the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, the 22 MW Mandu Hydropower Project and the 14.9 MW Hewa Khola Hydropower Project. The electricity productions from an 86 MW Solu Dudh Koshi Hydropower Project and 9.6 MW Mai Khola and its cascade project of 3 MW have also been affected.

The 1 MW Pheme Khola Hydropower Project, 5 MW Siuri Khola Hydropower Project, 40 MW Super Nyadi Hydropower Project, 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1, 20 MW Langtang Khola Hydropower Project and 4.36 MW Tungun-Thosne Hydropower Project are among those that suffered damages to the power plants. Similarly, the physical structures and equipment of the 216 MW Upper Trishuli 2 Hydropower Project, under construction in Rasuwa, have been damaged.

According to IPPAN, the access road of Sabhakhola-C Hydroelectric Project has been damaged and the road infrastructure of Landruk Modi Hydroelectric Project has also been washed away. The flood has swept away the construction equipment of the Super Trishuli Hydropower Project.

Similarly, the Khimti-Lamosangu transmission line has also been damaged. The NEA reported that Tower No 7 of this transmission line was swept away by the flood, disrupting the electricity supply to Kathmandu.

Additionally, the transmission line from Damak to Godak has also been damaged, with Tower Number 51 being washed away by the flood. The floods have also damaged the transmission lines of the Solu Corridor and Koshi Corridor.