140 MW Tanahun Hydropower Project achieves breakthrough of its access tunnel

Kathmandu; The 140 MW Tanahu Hydropower Project made a breakthrough in its access tunnel on Thursday.

According to the project, it has built the access tunnel as a part of its first-phase construction of the infrastructure. The tunnel is 436 meters long, while its diameter is 7 m. It will facilitate transporting construction materials and equipment to the upper side of the proposed dam construction area.

In the first phase, infrastructure including the 140 meter tall dam is being built by Song Da Corporation, Vietnam and Kalika Construction Pvt Ltd, Nepal JV. As of now, the project has constructed diversion tunnels, the upper side of the dam and has upgraded access roads.

The project is targeted to complete package one of the programs by May 2027. As of now, the package has gained 12.68 percent physical progress and spent Rs 2.23 billion under it.

Under its second phase package, the project has built a 539.8 m long diversion tunnel-1, while completing the construction of a powerhouse and installation of penstock under hydro-mechanical and electro-mechanical works. The contractor company Sino Hydro has already completed construction of the Cable Tunnel and currently, it is working on an under-ground powerhouse and a tunnel for search tank access.

Kiran Kumar Shrestha, manager at Tanahu Hydropower Limited, developer of the Tanahu Hydropower Project, said they have achieved 55 percent work progress in package two.

According to him, the project has spent Rs 6.39 billion for phase-two constructions. In total, the project will have to build a 1,486.9 m long tunnel.

Under the third package, the 220 kV double circuit Damauli--Bharatpur Transmission line will be constructed. Tanahu Hydropower is one of the biggest reservoir-type projects in the country. The project is expected to generate 587.7 GWh in its first 10 years of operation. The project can generate energy for six hours daily during the dry season.

The US $550-million project is being built with credit extended by the Asian Development Bank ($150 million), Japan International Cooperation Agency ($184 million), European Investment Bank ($85 million) and investment amounting to $87 million from Nepal Electricity Authority and the government.