The Rahughat Hydropower Project, a 40-megawatt facility under construction in Myagdi district, has achieved 72% physical progress after seven years of development. The project is being executed by Raghuganga Hydropower Limited, a subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
Funded by a concessional loan of USD 67 million from the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) and joint investments from NEA and the Government of Nepal, the project faced significant delays. Its original contractor, IVRCL, was terminated in 2015 due to unsatisfactory performance, and construction resumed under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model after a new contractor was appointed.
According to Rabin Kattel, chief of the Civil Division of the project, efforts have been ramped up to meet the revised completion deadline of June 29, 2025. “The dam, the 6,270-meter-long main tunnel, surge shaft, vertical pressure shafts, and the tailrace channel have been completed,” Kattel stated. “Construction of the switchyard and installation of powerhouse equipment are currently in progress. Additionally, work on the water retention pond, power intake, and penstock pipeline installation is advancing rapidly.”
As of late December 2024, 2,243.8 meters of lining work (slope and plaster) inside the main tunnel have been completed. The project also features a 17-meter-high and 31-meter-long semi-reservoir dam and a powerhouse under construction at Tilkenichauar, within Raghuganga Rural Municipality.
Till date, 72% of the physical infrastructure and 30% of the electromechanical components have been completed. The civil contractor, Jayaprakash Associates (JP), signed an agreement in November 2017 to advance the project. Initially allocated a 45-month timeline, the contract was extended by 30 months due to setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, and landslides.
Originally designed with a capacity of 32 megawatts, the project was upgraded to 40 megawatts to enhance its energy generation potential. Supporting infrastructure includes an 11-kilometer access road and a motorized truss bridge connecting the powerhouse and the dam to the Beni-Jomsom-Korla road.
Electricity generated by the Rahughat Hydropower Project will be integrated into the 220 kV double-circuit Dana-Kushma transmission line under the Kaligandaki Corridor via the loop-in, loop-out (LLO) method. This transmission line, consisting of four towers, has already been constructed.
Raghuganga Hydropower Limited was established as a fully owned subsidiary of the NEA in November 2016, formally initiating the Rahughat Hydropower Project. In November 2017, the company signed a contract with Jayaprakash Associates under the EPC model, ensuring the systematic development of the hydropower facility.
By June 2018, the construction of the 11-kilometer access road was completed, providing essential connectivity to transport materials and equipment. Tunnel excavation began in June 2019, focusing on the 6,270-meter-long main tunnel, marking significant progress toward realizing Nepal’s energy goals. -- RSS
