A 328-megawatt (MW) hydropower project with reservoir storage is set to be constructed in Dolpa, one of Nepal’s most underdeveloped districts in terms of infrastructure and economic development. The Department of Electricity Development (DoED) has initiated the necessary studies and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the project.
According to the department, the project will utilize the waters of the Bharbung River and Tatu Khola, with physical structures planned across Chharka Tangsong Rural Municipality and Kaike Rural Municipality. The EIA report has been submitted to the Ministry of Forests and Environment for approval, following recommendations from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation.
Under the project plan, the Bharbung River will host a 325 MW hydropower system, while 1.12 cubic meters per second of water from Tatu Khola will be used to generate an additional 3.10 MW of electricity through two small-scale river-flow-based systems.
The project will impact areas in Chharka Tangsong Rural Municipality–4 and 5 and Kaike Rural Municipality–1. In Chharka Tangsong–4, construction will include a 169-meter-high dam, a 766-meter diversion tunnel, intake structures, and a 16-kilometer headrace tunnel. Underground powerhouse facilities and tailrace channels will be constructed across Chharka Tangsong–4 and Kaike–1. Some areas of Chharka Tangsong–5 will be submerged due to the reservoir.
The project is expected to generate 933.19 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually from both systems. The site is located approximately 12 kilometers from Juphal Airport in Dolpa. The generated electricity will be connected to the proposed local substations.
The total estimated cost of the Bharbung Hydropower Project is Rs 1 arba 3 crore 31 lakh 9 thousand 31, with a cost per megawatt of Rs 28 crore 50 lakh 93 thousand 980.
This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. Translated with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
