Landslides, floods damage 16 hydel projects across country

KATHMANDU: Incessant rains over the past two days have triggered landslides and floods, causing extensive damage to 16 hydropower projects in Nepal. According to the Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN), the floods have damaged powerhouses, transmission lines, and other structures.

The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, and the losses may increase. The Upper Tamakoshi Project, developed by Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Ltd, an auxiliary of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has seen its dam site and sand-filtering pond damaged. Four individuals, including security personnel and two workers, are missing following a landslide at the project site on Saturday morning, as reported by CEO Mohan Prasad Gautam.

The 456-megawatt project’s production has been disrupted, impacting the overall power supply system. The NEA is working to resolve distribution issues caused by the damage, which has led to a disruption of 980MW per hour.

The 22MW Bagamati Small Hydropower Project, promoted by Mandu Hydropower, is completely submerged. Khanikhola Hydropower, Mandu Hydropower, and other projects have reported production halts to the Nepal Stock Exchange.

Flooding has also halted production at the 22.1MW Lower Hewakhola Hydropower Project, promoted by Mountain Hydro Nepal, and the 14.9MW Hewakhola Hydropower Project, promoted by Panchthar Power. Both projects were previously damaged by flooding last year and were nearing reconstruction completion.

The 86MW Solu Dudhkoshi Hydropower Project, promoted by Sahas Energy, has halted production due to dam damage. The 3MW Maikhola Cascade Hydropower Project and the 9.6MW Maikhola Hydropower Project, both promoted by Sagarmatha Hydropower Company, have also suffered damage.

Production at Pheme Khola Hydropower Project stopped after Sutrikhola rivulet damaged its structures. The Suparnyadi Hydropower Project’s access road and safety wall, with a total capacity of 40MW, have been damaged. The Elep River Tatopani hydropower project and the camp house and access road of the 216MW Upper Trishuli-1, constructed with Korean investment, have also been affected.

Three containers of construction materials have been washed away, and the crusher and access road of the Hewakhola Hydropower Project have been buried. The transmission line tower has collapsed, and equipment for the powerhouse has been washed away.

Landslides have caused problems on the access road of the Sabhakhola-B Hydropower Project, burying the powerhouse and damaging the dam. The access road of the Sabhakhola-C Hydropower Project and the road infrastructure of the Landruk Modi Hydroelectric Project have been washed away. The flood has also swept away construction equipment for the Super Trishuli Hydropower Project, which has a total capacity of 100MW and is under construction. Two excavator loaders and three tippers have been swept away.

Similarly, the Bailey bridge has been washed away, and the powerhouse under construction has been buried, according to IPPAN. The halt in power generation from the affected projects has placed additional pressure on the NEA's system. Consequently, the NEA had to import an additional 300MW of electricity from India on Saturday alone.

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