Mewa Developers seeks to construct 9.3 MW Siwa Khola Hydropower Project

KATHMANDU; Mewa Developers Pvt Ltd has moved forward to construct the 9.3 MW Siwa Khola Hydropower Project.

Mewa Developers, in this regard, has applied at the Department of Electricity Development (DoED) for its approval. Through issuing a 35-day public notice, the department has asked the stakeholders for suggestions.

The proposed hydropower project will be located in Siwa Khola of Mikwa Khola Rural Municipality and Meringden Rural Municipality of Taplejung district of Province 1.

The run of the river type project will have 6.20 cubic meters per second and a total head of 177.51 meter. Head refers to the change in water levels between the hydro intake and the hydro discharge point. The project is estimated to produce 54.637 GWh of electricity.

The main structure of the project will be situated at the left side bank of Siwa Khola. Water will be drawn through the penstock pipe of 260 m length and 1.5 m diameter from the surge tank.

According to the plan, there will be two 4.8 MW Francis turbines installed in the power house, from where the water will be dropped. The turbine will be connected to two 5,470 kVA three-phase AC Synchronized generators to produce 9.3 MW of electricity.      

Produced electricity will be evacuated through a 33 kV single circuit transmission line while it will be switched to the double-circuit transmission line, which is under construction by the project itself. Electricity will then be connected to the national grid via a 33/132/220 kV substation at Dhunge Sanghu.

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment of the project, the water from the power house will be released at the rate of 184 liter per second in the Sikuwa Khola, lying at the lower belt of the proposed dam construction site, targeting the living creatures in the area.

The project is estimated to complete its construction by mid-June of 2025. Currently, Mewa Developers Pvt Ltd has been constructing 73 MW Madhya Mewa Hydropower Project.