The Upper Trishuli '3B' Hydropower Project gains momentum

The Upper Trishuli 'Three B' Hydropower Project, which has not been able to achieve the expected progress due to the delay of construction businessmen, has made significant progress in recent days. The work of the project with a total connected capacity of 37 MW being constructed in Rasuwa and Nuwakot under the People's Hydropower Program has gained momentum.

 The overall physical construction progress of the Upper Trishuli '3B' Hydropower Project, which has been hit by the Covid-19 epidemic, has reached 58 percent so far. Work is in full swing with the aim of completing the construction of the project by September 2023.

 The construction of the project, which was in full swing, was halted for about 15 months as Chinese workers, who had gone to their homes in the second week of January 2021 to celebrate the New Year, could not return due to Covid-19 and could not bring equipment and materials from China.

 The construction of the project was resumed only from Chait 2077, but the work was again affected for about three weeks due to the second and third wave of Kovid-19.

 Also, construction was affected by the discovery of weaker-than-expected rocks in the main tunnel. Contractor Chinese company Suifa ANHE Group Company Limited is currently constructing main structures including intake, main tunnel and power house.

 Managing Director of Trishuli Hydropower Company Limited, the promoter of the project, Mohan Prasad Gautam said that 2,865 meters of the main tunnel with a length of 3,805 meters has been dug.

 "Surface power house excavation work has been completed and concreting of the structures has started. Work is underway with the aim of completing the first phase of concreting by next May by connecting electromechanical equipment and parts," said Gautam.

 As the customs checkpoints with China have not been fully opened yet, the contractor company has not been able to bring the construction equipment and materials that have already been procured and are in the production and packaging stage to the construction site. According to the project, the Consulate General in Lhasa has informed that the electromechanical equipments which could not be released at Kerung port for a long time will be released from the customs port soon after the initiative of the Ministry of Energy and Foreign Affairs.

 The contract agreement was signed with Suifa ANHE Group Company on January 2018 for the construction of the project in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model. The Contractor Company will design, construct, connect and operate all the civil, electromechanical and hydromechanical structures and equipment of the project.

 As the Upper Trishuli '3A' Hydropower Project of 60 MW capacity constructed by Nepal Electricity Authority is a cascade project, the Upper Trishuli '3B' will not have to build dams, sand thawing ponds (descender) and other structures. The gate required to send the water released from the power house of Upper Trishuli '3A' to the tunnel of the project has been connected. The electricity generated will flow into the national grid through the Samundratar-Trishuli '3B' hub transmission line currently in operation.

 Quick collection of balance amount due

 The promoter of the project, Trishuli Hydropower Company Limited, will soon collect the remaining amount for the shares issued under the People's Hydropower Program.

 The company had issued 3.7 million shares to the public and collected only Rs 10, which is at least 10 percent of the face value of Rs 100 per share. The People's Hydropower Program (Operation and Management) Procedure, 2075. The remaining amount to be paid for the shares is 50 percent of the physical progress of the project and the shareholders of the founding group of the company have agreed to demand payment only after paying all the shares.

 “As the provisions in the rules of procedure have been completed, the shareholders will be called soon to collect the remaining 90 Rupees. Also, the issue of other shares in the general group will be expedited, ”said managing director Gautam.

 The promoter of the project, Trishuli Hydropower Company Limited, has 30-30 percent founder share of NEA and Nepal Telecom. The company will have five percent share of Rasuwa and Nuwakot village and municipality, five percent of Rasuwa and Nuwakot local financial institutions, 10 percent of Rasuwa and Nuwakot residents, 15 percent of the general public and five percent of NEA and Telecom employees.

 The estimated construction cost of the project is Rs. 7.44 billion and the projected interest for the construction period is Rs. 780 million. Investment in the project has been raised from 30 percent equity (Rs. 2.47 billion) and 70 percent loan (Rs. 5.76 billion).

 The project will generate 134.88 million units of electricity in the dry season (November 16 to June 15) and 157.71 million units in the rainy season (June 16 to November 15).