Gandaki hydro power, 10 billion loss in a single monsoon

POKHARA: AUGUST 29 – Lamjung’s Marsyangdi-1 hydropower project will not be able to generate electricity for at least three months. The floods in the Marsyangdi River at the beginning of the monsoon have washed away the hydropower project. The same project has reduced 50 MW of electricity in the national transmission line. Kaski’s Super Madi hydropower project was in the final stages of construction. The floodwaters in the Madi River swept away the structure under construction in an instant.

There are no definite figures, but investors say that more than Rs 10 billion was lost this rainy season. “It’s an underwater project. Water is indispensable for energy production. But after a heavy downpour, we fear that the floods and landslides could flood power plants, “said Sushil Pokharel, secretary of IPAN Gandaki.” The main reason is that the government has not done enough studies. Even the studies done have not been made public. ‘

In addition, road access has been disrupted in many places and bridges have been washed away. “If the road was safe, the demolished projects would have been rebuilt immediately. The road to the project is closed. “The floods and landslides have become a tragedy for us,” he said.

There is a possibility of generating 11,930 MW of electricity from Gandaki. So far, 569.5 MW of electricity has been generated. Gandaki has contributed more than 31 per cent across the country. The state government has stated that power generation has already started from 43 projects. Work is currently underway on 40 projects. If completed, it will generate 929 MW of electricity. There are 38 licensed projects. A license of 2492 MW has been distributed.

Investors have invested more than Rs 113 billion in Gandaki power generation. He said that Rs 200 million would be invested in each megawatt generation. Consumption in this state is very low compared to electricity generation. Even now, 17.5 per cent of households in Gandaki are without electricity. It is estimated that 82.5 per cent of households have access to electricity. The main source of energy is firewood (69 per cent). 26 per cent use LP gas and about 5 per cent use biogas. The percentage of electricity consumption is only 0.85 per cent.

According to Jagat Pokharel, IPAN coordinator, the construction of the hydropower project has not progressed as much as expected due to the government’s troubles. “Our field is Gandaki. The law is in Kathmandu. Even after the transition to federalism, there are no policy rules at the state level, ‘he added. Energy Minister Harisharan Acharya said that the Gandaki government would take all possible initiatives to generate hydropower in Gandaki.