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With the construction of the 40 MW Raghughat Hydropower Project reaching its final stage, testing of its major physical structures has commenced. The project, promoted by Raghuganga Hydropower, a subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has intensified preparations for power generation.

Testing has begun on the dam located at Dagnam in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-4 and at the foothills of Jhin in Ward No. 5, along with the project’s 6.27-kilometre-long headrace tunnel and two desander ponds. According to Raghuganga Hydropower Managing Director Ganesh KC, water was released into the desander at the dam site on Friday, while the main tunnel is scheduled to be filled with water starting Sunday. He said the project will move into the electricity generation phase once testing of the completed structures and powerhouse equipment is successfully completed.

Construction of the powerhouse at Tilkenichaur has already been completed, with painting works currently underway. One 20 MW generating unit has already been installed, while installation of equipment for the second unit is in its final stage. The switchyard constructed within the powerhouse premises to connect the electricity generated by the project to the national transmission system has been in operation since May 25.

A civil construction contract worth around NPR 6 billion was signed with Indian company Jaiprakash Associates (JP) on November 22, 2017, with a target completion period of 45 months. However, the project was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, landslides, and shortages of construction materials. Managing Director KC said work is progressing with the goal of completing the project within the fourth extended deadline.

For the installation of electromechanical equipment, a contract worth more than USD 10.293 million was signed with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in November 2019. The project is being developed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model with a concessional loan of USD 67 million from the Export-Import Bank of India, along with joint investment from the Nepal Electricity Authority and the Government of Nepal.

After the agreement with the previous contractor was terminated in 2015 due to financial difficulties, the project was advanced through a new process. The current contractor, JP, began constructing access roads in June/July 2018 and started tunnel excavation in June/July 2019.

The Raghughat Hydropower Project is expected to generate 240.593 million units of electricity annually. The project had already signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in March/April 2019. The electricity generated will be integrated into the national transmission system through the 220 kV double-circuit Dana–Kushma transmission line under the Kaligandaki Corridor. According to the project, construction of the four required transmission towers and the associated transmission line has already been completed.

Jalasarokar