The New Butwal-Bardaghat 220 kV double-circuit transmission line was officially brought into operation on Thursday, December 12, following the completion of its construction, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
Spanning 21.5 kilometers, the transmission line connects the New Butwal substation in Suryabasti, Sunwal Municipality-13, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West), to Bardaghat Municipality-5 in the same district.
This infrastructure is expected to enhance the transmission of electricity generated by hydropower projects in Nepal’s western region and facilitate the expansion of electricity trade with India.
Additionally, the 220 kV transmission line between the New Bharatpur substation in Aanptari, Bharatpur Metropolitan City-11, Chitwan, and New Butwal has been successfully charged, NEA said.
With the operation of the New Butwal-Bardaghat transmission line, a continuous 220 kV infrastructure from New Butwal to Hetauda has been established, with a capacity to carry approximately 1,200 MW of electricity.
Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of NEA, highlighted that the 220 kV transmission backbone from Bharatpur will enable efficient east-west power flow, improving voltage levels and overall system reliability.
“During the monsoon, surplus electricity can be exported to India via Dhalkebar, while in winter, electricity shortages can be addressed through imports to supply the western region,” said Ghising. “The completion of the New Butwal-Gorakhpur second cross-border transmission line will further open up opportunities for electricity trade.”
The transmission line will primarily support the flow of electricity generated by hydropower projects along the Kaligandaki and Marshyangdi rivers and their tributaries. Power from the Marshyangdi watershed area will be integrated into the New Bharatpur substation through the 220 kV Marshyangdi Corridor Transmission Line.
This electricity can then be transmitted to Hetauda and New Butwal. Meanwhile, the construction of the 400 kV New Butwal-Gorakhpur Transmission Line, the second cross-border transmission infrastructure with India, is ongoing.
According to NEA, the New Butwal-Bardaghat transmission line project was funded by the Government of Nepal, NEA, and concessional loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with an estimated total cost of around Rs 1 billion.
A 4.5-kilometer multi-circuit transmission line from Badera in Sunwal Municipality-13 to the New Butwal substation has also been completed, connecting the 220 kV Kaligandaki Corridor Transmission Line to the same multi-circuit towers.
The project was initiated to boost domestic electricity consumption, expand and strengthen Nepal’s internal transmission and distribution systems, and promote bilateral and regional electricity trade.
According to project chief Bishworanjan Mishra, construction faced delays due to lengthy approval processes for land use and tree clearance in forested areas, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and environmental impact assessments required for the Chure region.
The contract for the project was signed with Power China SEPCO1 in December 2019, with implementation commencing in mid-2020.
