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EU investing heavily in Nepal's hydropower thru EIB: Kulman Ghising

Nepalkhabar

 |  Kathmandu

A high-level team of the European Union EU has conducted an on-site inspection of the under-construction Chilime-Trishuli 220 KV transmission line project.

A high-level team led by European Union's Asia Director Pietris Austs conducted an on-site inspection of the projects under construction in Nuwakot and Rasuwa on Monday.

Under the project, 220/132/33 KV Chilime Hub and Trishuli 3B Hub substations are under construction at Thambuchet in Amachodingmo Rural Municipality of Rasuwa and Pahirebesi of Kispan Rural Municipality of Nuwakot respectively. Also, a 28 km 220 KV transmission line is under construction from Chilime Hub to Trisuli 3B Hub Substation.

The estimated cost of the project is 9 million US dollars, and there is an investment from the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Electricity Authority and a grant from the KFW Development Bank (German). The European Investment Bank (EIB), established by the European Union, has concessional loans.

A high-level team of the Union inspected Trishuli 3B hub substation and transmission line under construction at Dandagaun located in Uttargaya Rural Municipality-2 of Rasuwa. The team discussed the project's progress, problems, construction completion date, among others.

The team leader Pietris Astus mentioned that the construction of the Project has picked up pace recently and the progress so far is satisfactory, said Kulman Ghising, the Managing Director (MD) of Nepal Electricity Authority, who went to the site inspection with the team.

A tower has to be built in a geographically very dangerous and difficult mountainous area, because it is crowded and there is no road, stones, sand, tower materials, water have to be carried by people or carts, floods, poor performance of contractors and consultants, land use problems in forest areas, local obstacles, due to Covid-19 among others. The construction of the Project was affected. Now construction has gained momentum.

"They have been expressing interest and concern in the past due to some delay in the construction, but during the inspection visit, the work has gained momentum and made significant progress and the team has expressed their happiness and praised it by seeing that the Project is being carried out in a geographically risky and difficult Himalayan region", MD Ghising said.

According to him, the European Union is trying to invest heavily in the production, transmission and distribution of Nepal's hydropower through EIB. 

It has expressed its desire to invest in the 635 MW Dudhkoshi Reservoir Project through co-financing by international financial institutions. The officials of the Union are positive for investment in other additional projects after noticing progress in the construction of Chilime-Trishuli transmission line.

In addition to the Chilime-Trishuli transmission line, EIB has provided concessional loans for the 140 MW Tanahun Hydropower Project, Marsyangdi Corridor 220 KV transmission line and the electrification of the districts of Sudurpaschim and Lumbini provinces. KFW has provided grants for electrification and distribution system strengthening and solar power in Nuwakot and Rasuwa.

The Chilime-Trishuli 220 KV transmission line has been constructed in the national electricity system of the hydropower projects under construction and to be built on the Trishuli river and its tributaries. The overall physical progress of the Project is 81 percent, out of which, the construction progress of transmission line and substation is 71 and 70 percent, respectively. The construction of transmission lines and substations is full swing with the goal of completing by March.

About 300 workers are employed in the construction of transmission lines, 90 workers in Chilime Hub Substation and 160 workers in Trishuli 3B Hub Substation.

MD Ghising gave instructions to increase the number of workers to carry out all the works such as laying the foundation of the tower, erecting it, pulling the wire, installing the equipment of the substation, among others simultaneously.

Power transformers, GIS and other important equipment in both substations have been brought to the Project site. On the other hand, all equipment including towers, conductors of transmission lines have been supplied to the construction site. Currently, equipment is being installed in the substations and the remaining civil structures are being constructed.

The foundations of 44 of the 79 towers on the total 28 km transmission line have been laid. Partial foundations of 13 towers have been laid. Excavation and drainage works are being carried out to lay the foundations of 15 towers. Twenty towers have been erected. The main contractor has already signed contracts with the subcontractor to lay the wires on the erected towers. The string pulling will begin soon. Ten km wire can be pulled instantly.

Chinese company Pinggao Group, the contractor of the Project, stated that the construction has been sped up and the work is being done with the goal of completing it by mid-April. A contract was signed with Pinggao in November 2017 for the construction of transmission lines and substations. The contract agreement was implemented in December 2017.



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