Kaski. Pokhara—The 22-megawatt Setikhola Hydropower Project has started generating electricity from Pokhara Metropolitan City-33 in Kaski district.

Promoted by Seti Khola Hydropower Limited, the project was started in Mangsir 2078 BS. After the inspection of the project by a technical team of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the generated electricity will be supplied to the national grid on trial basis, said Deepak Baral, director of the promoter company.

According to him, the project will initially be in the test period for 15 days. After that, regular commercial production will begin. The electricity generated during the period will be transmitted to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) system and technical testing of the project and equipment will be carried out.

The project had set a target to start generation from last December. However, it is said that the completion of the transmission line has been delayed due to delay in the approval process of forest area related to the construction of the transmission line. Director Baral said that out of five towers constructed for the construction of the transmission line, three towers are in the forest zone so it is taking time to get the necessary approval.

The Seti Khola Hydropower Project has constructed a dam at Tiklang of Pokhara-33. Water was then transferred to the powerhouse at Lower Punditar through a 3,106-metre-long tunnel. Two turbines with a capacity of 11 MW each have been installed here.

Rs 5.05 billion has been invested in the project. The initial public offering (IPO) will be issued to the general public within the next fiscal year after the project comes into commercial operation.

Lately, hydropower projects of different capacities are under construction in the Seti River. The 25-megawatt Seti River Hydropower Project promoted by Vision Lumbini Power Company has already started commercial production last year. Currently, half a dozen projects are in the initial stage of construction while some are under construction.