Currently, 170 megawatts of power generated from hydroelectric projects operating on various rivers and streams in the Far West have been connected to the national transmission line.
What you should know
The Far West Province, which has ample potential for hydroelectric power generation, has become self-sufficient in energy. The Far West is currently generating twice the electricity demand.
Currently, 171 megawatts of electricity is being generated from hydropower projects operating on various rivers and streams in the province. Of which, about 170 megawatts have been connected to the national transmission line. The contribution of the Far West to the total 3,878 megawatts of electricity generated across the country is increasing.
According to the Nepal Electricity Authority Attariya Grid, 30 megawatts of electricity are generated from Chameliya Hydropower Project, 8 from Upper Api and Lower Api Hydropower Projects, 10 from Madhyagard Hydropower Project, and 38.46 megawatts of electricity from Upper Kalanga Hydropower Project and 15.33 megawatts of electricity from Lower Kalanga Hydropower Project built under the Kalanga Basin are connected to the 132 kV transmission line. Similarly, 10.7 MW of Sanigad Hydropower Project and 40 MW of Upper Chameliya Hydropower Project, 8.5 MW of Naugadh Khola, 8 MW of Upper Naugadh Khola and 0.996 MW of Jiuni Guard under the Kalanga Basin are connected to the 132 kV transmission line.
In the Far West, private sector Kalanga Hydro Limited has generated 64.49 MW of electricity in a single basin. This is the largest hydropower project produced by a single private sector company here. Kalanga Hydro has invested more than Rs 11 billion for the construction of three projects in the Kalanga Basin.
According to the grid, 80 MW of electricity is currently being consumed in the Far West, while 170 MW of electricity is being generated. Grid engineer Rakesh Bhatt says, ‘Now that the irrigation season has arrived, more electricity is being consumed than produced.’ The 10 megawatts we are short of come from the Butwal transmission line and Tanakpur.’ He said that during the rainy season, more than 170 megawatts of electricity are generated according to capacity.
During the rainy season, the Far West exports electricity to India from Tanakpur and Butwal. 70 million units of electricity come to Nepal throughout the year from India’s Tanakpur transmission line. Engineer Bhatta said that there is more and less of this in some months depending on the need.
According to Engineer Bhatta, 130 megawatts of electricity are consumed in the Far West during the summer season. In winter, electricity production is reduced by almost 50 percent and consumption is also reduced by 50 percent. He said that electricity production also decreases in winter when the water level decreases.
There are 12 hydropower projects of more than one megawatt in operation in the Far West. Some small hydropower plants have been shut down. But 170 megawatts of electricity generated from projects with a capacity of more than 8 megawatts is connected to the national transmission line. ‘We were already self-sufficient in electricity,’ said Engineer Bhatta, ‘In the Far West, twice the megawatts of electricity are generated than the demand.’
He said that since only large hydropower projects are connected to the 132 kV transmission line, small hydropower projects are not counted. According to him, projects smaller than 8 megawatts are not connected to the 132 kV transmission line.
Among the small hydropower projects in the Far West, a 3.5 megawatt project in BP Nagar in Doti and a 1 megawatt project in Bajhang have already come into operation. Similarly, an additional 1.5 megawatt project has also been completed in Doti.
Although the construction of more than 167 megawatt power projects has been completed in the province, production also decreases due to the decrease in water level in winter. According to the grid, electricity production depends on the water level. Some projects produce less than 50 percent of their electricity. During the rainy season, 100 percent of their electricity is produced according to their capacity.
Out of Nepal's electricity production capacity of 83,000 MW, stakeholders say that only 18,149 MW of electricity can be produced in the Far West. 22 percent of the country's total hydropower production capacity is in the Far West alone. According to the Independent Power Producers Association (IPPAN) Nepal, 20 hydropower projects with a capacity of 3,614 MW and four with a capacity of 106 MW are under study in the Far West. 12 projects are in the basket of the Government of Nepal. Of which, the capacity is 94 MW.
Large proposed hydropower projects including the 10,800 MW Karnali Chisapani, 6,800 MW Pancheshwor, and 750 MW Paschim Seti are located in the Far West. According to IPPAN, about 200 million rupees will be spent per megawatt for electricity generation in the Far West. According to the capacity, about 3629 billion 800 million rupees will have to be spent for electricity generation.
