The Sanjen Hydropower Project, developed by Sanjen Hydropower Company Limited, a subsidiary of Chilime Hydropower Company, has started commercial production of electricity. After completing all technical tests, the project connected its power to the national grid on Monday evening.

The 42.5 MW project, located in Rasuwa, began test production on November 23. Electricity from the first unit was successfully produced and supplied to the national transmission line, confirmed Rabin Koirala, sub-engineer of the project.

Sanjen Hydropower Project is one of two semi-reservoir projects built in a cascade model. The Upper Sanjen Hydropower Project, completed in mid-September 2023, began supplying power to the national grid on September 18, 2023.

The project faced delays caused by the 2015 earthquake, COVID-19 pandemic, border blockade, and the unavailability of the national transmission line. However, the completion of the Chilime-Trishuli 220 kV transmission line enabled the connection of electricity generated by both the Sanjen and Upper Sanjen projects to the national grid.

Sanjen is regarded as a model semi-reservoir project in Nepal. A peaking pond, capable of storing 44,000 cubic meters of water, has been constructed at the dam site of the Upper Sanjen Hydropower Project. This facility allows the project to supply additional electricity to the national grid for up to 70 minutes during peak demand periods.

Arpan Bahadur Singh, CEO of the project, highlighted that the peaking pond enables the generation of extra power during evening hours, significantly supporting the national electricity system. The pond also allows the powerhouse to operate during emergency breakdowns, ensuring consistent supply.

The Upper Sanjen Project is the first cascade project in Nepal to implement special technology, enabling the lower project to continue electricity generation even during maintenance of the upper project. The project officials claimed that this state-of-the-art German-manufactured equipment reduces downtime and financial losses during maintenance.

Kathmandu University has also adopted a model of the project in its laboratory for research purposes. The project serves as a practical example for students studying hydropower development, renewable energy, hydrology, and sustainable development.

With the commercial operation of the 42.5 MW Sanjen Hydropower Project, experts believe it will help address system imbalances during winter months when electricity demand rises. This contribution marks a significant step in stabilizing Nepal’s energy supply and supporting the growing demand for electricity. -- RSS