The construction of a 220/132 kV substation based on Gas Insulated System (GIS) technology has been completed at Markichowk in Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality, Tanahun.

The Markichowk substation, constructed under the Marsyangdi–Kathmandu 220 kV transmission line project, was energized (charged) and brought into operation on Tuesday.

To transmit electricity from hydropower projects in the Marsyangdi River watershed area to the Kathmandu Valley, the Marsyangdi–Kathmandu 220 kV double-circuit transmission line from the Markichowk substation to Kathmandu was also charged at 220 kV and brought into operation on the same day.

The 82-kilometer transmission line was initially charged and brought into operation at 132 kV on 21 June 2022. With the charging of the Markichowk substation, the Marsyangdi–Kathmandu transmission line has now been upgraded to operate at 220 kV.

To supply electricity from the hydropower projects in the Marsyangdi River watershed area to the Kathmandu Valley and to strengthen the integrated power system within the country, the Marsyangdi–Kathmandu 220 kV transmission line project has constructed the transmission line as well as 220/132 kV substations at Markichowk and Matatirtha in Kathmandu.

The construction of the Matatirtha substation was completed, and it has been operational since last April. Both substations are equipped with two 160/160 MVA power transformers each, giving them a capacity of 320/320 MVA.

Nepal Electricity Authority’s Managing Director, Kulman Ghising, stated that with the operation of the Markichowk substation, the necessary infrastructure has been established to bring electricity from the hydropower projects in the Marsyangdi River corridor to the Kathmandu Valley via the 220 kV transmission line.

This will improve the voltage of the country’s integrated power system, making electricity more sufficient, reliable, and of higher quality, said Executive Director Ghising. He added that once the under-construction Markichowk–Bharatpur section of the Marsyangdi Corridor Transmission Line Project is completed, electricity can also be supplied to Bharatpur. The construction of the Markichowk–Bharatpur section is targeted for completion by the end of the upcoming month of May.

The Marsyangdi–Kathmandu transmission line from Markichowk to Badbhanjyang in Chandragiri Municipality and the Trishuli–Kathmandu 220 kV transmission line, constructed to bring electricity from hydropower projects in the Trishuli River watershed to the Kathmandu Valley, have been interconnected at Badbhanjyang. Both the Trishuli and Marsyangdi transmission lines have been linked as a multi-circuit (four circuits) system from Badbhanjyang and integrated into the Matatirtha substation.

Around 1,000 megawatts of electricity from both the Marsyangdi–Kathmandu and Trishuli–Kathmandu transmission lines will be interconnected at Badbhanjyang, and approximately 2,000 megawatts of electricity will be integrated into the Matatirtha substation through the multi-circuit transmission line.

Under the Marsyangdi–Kathmandu transmission line project, the construction contract for the Matatirtha and Markichowk substations was terminated due to unsatisfactory performance of the contractor. A new contract was signed with China Machinery Engineering Corporation in January 2021 to continue the remaining construction work. The estimated cost of both substations is around 2.25 billion rupees, as mentioned by the project chief, Lakshman Phuyal.

The Marsyangdi–Kathmandu transmission line project was initiated with investment from the Government of Nepal and the Authority, along with a grant from the Government of Norway and a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank.