Powerhouse of the 50-megawatt Upper Marsyangdi-A Hydropower Project. Photo: Navinraj Kuinkel/TRN

After continuous rainfall, the increased water flow in rivers and streams has enabled hydropower projects in Lamjung to generate electricity at their full capacity.

With sufficient water now flowing in the Marsyangdi, Dordi, Ngadi, Midim, Khudi, Chhyangdi, and Syange rivers, the hydropower projects operating there have reported electricity generation at full capacity.

Electricity production had declined since December last year due to reduced water flow. This is a regular phenomenon in Nepal's hydroelectricity projects based on run-of-the-river model.

The 70-megawatt Middle-Marsyangdi Hydropower Project, the largest in Lamjung, is now generating electricity at full capacity. The plant had been producing only 24 megawatts since December. However, with adequate water in the Marsyangdi River at present, the project is generating 70 megawatts, Project Chief Pawan Basnet informed.

Similarly, the 50-megawatt Upper-Marsyangdi-A Hydropower Project, located in Bhulbhule, Marsyangdi Rural Municipality–8, had been producing just 25 megawatts during the winter but is now also operating at full capacity, said the project’s Public Relations Officer, Karna Adhikari.

Power generation has also increased at the 54-megawatt Super Dordi ‘B’ project, built by People’s Hydropower Company in the Dordi Corridor. While output had dropped to 13–14 megawatts in winter, the project has now resumed generation at full capacity.

Likewise, the 30-megawatt Ngadi Hydropower Project, the 27-megawatt Dordi Khola project by Himalayan Power Partner Ltd. in the Dordi Corridor, and the 25-megawatt Upper Dordi ‘A’ project by Liberty Energy Hydropower are producing power at full capacity.

Smaller projects are also ramping up production. These include the 5-megawatt Siuri, 4.4-megawatt Rudi, 4-megawatt Khudi, 3-megawatt Midim Khola (Karapu), 2-megawatt Chhyangdi Khola, and the 183-kilowatt Syange Small Hydropower Project. Altogether, around 300 megawatts of electricity is currently being generated from various projects in the district.

By Nabin Raj Kuinkel