Myagdi. The trial generation of 48.5 MW Upper Rahughat Hydropower Project has started.

The test generation of the project has started from today after completing the construction of dam, tunnel, power house, transmission line, switchyard, installation of equipment and internal testing. Residential engineer of the project, Prakash Timilsina, said that the test test was started on the presence of a technical team of Nepal Electricity Authority.

“The production has started after successful internal testing of the physical structures and equipment”, he said, adding, “We are preparing to start commercial generation after 15 days as no problem was seen during the test.” ’

The project has a dam at Chimkhola of Raghuganga Rural Municipality-7 and a powerhouse at the foot of Dagnam of Ward No. 4. A 680-metre long penstock pipeline from the outlet to the powerhouse has been installed.

Everest Hydro is the electromechanical contractor of Upper Rahughat while Machhapuchhre Metal and Machinery is the contractor. Ramechhap Sherpa Construction is the civil contractor of the project. The tunnel has been built by the South Asian Infrastructure.

The 37.5 MW Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangale Hydropower Project built by Tundi Power had started commercial power generation last July. The 21.3-megawatt Thulokhola Hydropower Project built by the United Power Limited had started commercial power generation from mid-September.

The power generated from Upper Rahughat will be generated from Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat powerhouse and the water from Bagar rivulet of Chimkhola. The estimated cost of the two projects is Rs 13 billion. The electricity generated from these projects has been temporarily connected to the national grid from the switchyard of Rahughat Hydropower Project located at Tilkenichaur of Raghuganga Rural Municipality-3.

Locally, the 22.5 MW Upper Thulokhola Hydropower Project has constructed the eight-kilometer-132 KV transmission line from Bandi to Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangale. The 220 KV transmission line from Chimkhola to Tilkeni is built by Thulokhola, Upper Thulokhola, Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangale and Upper Rahughat Hydropower Projects.