Capacity of Upper Myagdi Hydropower Project Increased to 46.25 MW

Developers of the Upper Myagdi Hydropower Project have increased its installed capacity of the under-construction project at Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality from 37 megawatts to 46.25 megawatts.

Hydro Empire Pvt Ltd, the promoter, said it upgraded the project after confirming sufficient water availability. Project chief Ramesh Subedi said the company increased the size of the headrace tunnel, raised the project’s gross head, and opted for higher-capacity turbines with additional investment.

“We have already obtained in-principle approval from the Department of Electricity Development for the capacity enhancement,” he said. “The upgrade does not require acquiring new land or expanding the use of forest area.”

The project’s gross head has been raised from 314 to 317 metres, while its design discharge has been increased from 14.41 cubic metres per second to 17.24 cubic metres per second.

Managing Director Jit Bahadur Gharti said the project’s estimated cost stands at Rs 8.46 billion. Construction has begun on the dam at Singkosh Dobhan in Dhaulagiri-4 and the powerhouse at Ghimleti (Kharapani). The project has achieved 35 percent physical progress.

Tunnel excavation started in March 2024. Of the planned 3,838-metre headrace tunnel, 2,400 metres have already been completed. The administrative building at Ghimleti has also been completed. The project includes an 843-metre penstock pipeline leading to the powerhouse. Upper Myagdi is a run-of-the-river (ROR) project.

RSC RJ JV and Machhapuchhre Engineering Pvt Ltd are the civil contractors, Troyer Italy is responsible for electromechanical works, and Machhapuchhre Metal and Machinery Workshop Pvt Ltd is undertaking hydromechanical works. Financing is being arranged under a 70–30 debt-equity structure led by Siddhartha Bank, with Nepal SBI Bank, Citizens Bank International, Everest Bank and Nabil Bank as co-lenders.

Electricity from the project will be connected to the national grid via Nepal Electricity Authority’s Dandakhet substation. Preparations are underway to build a 10-km 132 kV double-circuit transmission line for power evacuation. An 18-km access road from Shivaratri Khola to the dam site has already been completed.

The project has also helped extend road access to Khiwang and Chechung villages on the recommendation of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality. It aims to start generation by April 2027.

The project has allocated Rs 63.49 million for community support programmes as per policy requirements. -- RSS