Kathmandu. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has accelerated the construction of transmission line and substation projects with high priority to address the challenges of electricity supply in Madhes province, weak distribution infrastructure and challenges of electricity supply to the industrial sector. The Ministry has taken forward the expansion of transmission infrastructure in a strategic way to not only meet the immediate demand of electricity but also to meet the additional demand from industries, businesses and domestic consumers in the coming days.

The addition of new transmission lines and substations is expected to improve the quality and reliability of electricity in Madhes Province as well as develop the energy infrastructure required for industrial expansion. The Ministry has been carrying out regular monitoring, coordinating and facilitating the completion of the under-construction projects within the stipulated timeframe.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said that the construction of transmission line and substation projects was in a crucial phase to address the electricity demand of Madhes state. According to him, the 132 kV Dhalkebar-Balganga transmission line and substation project has already charged with 24 kilometers long double circuit 132 kV transmission line in a no-load condition.

Likewise, the construction and installation of equipment at Balganga substation is moving ahead in a rapid manner. He said the Ministry is making necessary coordination by mobilizing its subordinate bodies to bring the project into operation before Dashain. According to Minister Shrestha, the operation of the project is expected to further strengthen the distribution system of Mujeliya, Yadukoha, Dhanushadham, Birendra Bazaar, Lohana and Nagarain areas as well as in Dhanusha district.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 2.13 billion for the 132 kV Dhalkebar-Balganga transmission line and substation. The major projects include construction of 24 kilometer double circuit 132 KV transmission line and 63 MVA substation in ward no. 9 of Hansapur municipality.

Dhalkebar-Loharpatti 132 KV Line. The transmission line will be connected to Balganga Substation from Ward No. 30. This July, the transmission line was charged in no-load condition. Most of the major equipment of the substation including power transformer have already reached the project site. The civil construction is in the final stage and the equipment is being installed. The control room and staff quarters have also reached the final stage.

East-West power demand to be built

One of the major challenges seen in the electricity system in Madhes Province is the increasing load on the 33 KV and 11 KV distribution lines. As the demand increases especially in the rural and industrial areas of Siraha and Saptari, the capacity of the existing distribution infrastructure is making it difficult to meet the future demand.

Keeping this in mind, the Lahan-Sukhipur 132 KV transmission line project has been started. Construction of double circuit transmission line is about 17 kilometers from the existing Lahan substation to the proposed 132/33/11 KV substation at Sukhipur. There will be two 63 MVA transformers and one 24 MVA transformer at Sukhipur and two 132 KV lines will be added to Lahan substation.

The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 1.53 billion. The feasibility and environmental study has been completed and the boundary wall of the Sukhipur substation has been constructed and the construction license has been obtained. The land acquisition process for the transmission line towers has reached the final stage and the contractor has already initiated works to construct, test and operate the transmission line within 24 months. The remaining land acquisition works have been forwarded with the aim of completing it by August.

Transmission infrastructure being expanded in Saptari

Similarly, the Rupani-Bodebarsain 132 KV transmission line project has been initiated in Saptari district considering the demand for electricity and industrial potential. Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has said that preparations are underway to construct a new 132/33/11 kV substation at Bodebarsain by constructing 18 kilometers double circuit transmission line.

There will be 2 30 MVA transformer and one transformer of 24 MVA. Two 132 kV line bays will be added to Rupani substation. It will also help in improving the supply of electricity in the central and south-eastern regions of Saptari and connecting the generation to the system in the future.

According to NEA, the estimated cost of the project is around Rs 1.56 billion. Currently, the study work has been completed, the boundary wall of the substation has been constructed and the construction license has been obtained. The cost estimate of the 19-km project has already been approved and the process of preparing the tender documents has started.

Central and southern areas of Rautahat improving

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The Chandrapur-Sukhdevchowk 132 kV transmission line project is augmenting the power transmission capacity in the central and southern region. Likewise, double circuit transmission line is to be constructed from the existing substation at Chandranigahapur to the proposed substation at Saruatha of Yamunamai Rural Municipality-4.

As per the plan, under the construction of 132/33/11 KV substation at Saruatha, installation of 2 transformers with 63 MVA each 132/33 kV and 24 MVA will be installed 33/11 kV transformer. The transmission line will aid the distribution centers in Gaur, Manpur, Simraungadh and Maulapur areas.

As the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has constructed around 7 kilometers long transmission line passing through the national forest area, the process of land acquisition for the construction of the tower and forest area is underway. However, most of the pre-construction works like detailed feasibility and environmental study, land acquisition for the substation, construction of boundary wall and security building have been completed. Works related to check survey, tower profiling, pegging, pit marking and plot map of the transmission line have been completed.

An agreement was signed with the contractor in July for the construction of the Chandrapur-Saruatha transmission line. The contract amount of the project is Rs 938.24 million and the construction period has been fixed at 30 months. However, the procurement process of Saruatha substation is also moving forward.

High Capacity Transmission Line for Industrial Area of Bara-Parsa

The Hetauda-Parwanipur-Pokhariya 132 KV Transmission Line Project has been forwarded as an important infrastructure at a time when the demand for electricity is growing rapidly in the Bara-Parsa region.

From Parwanipur to Pokharia, 21. The major projects of this project include the construction of a 21 km long 132 kV 4 circuit transmission line, installation of a new 132/33/11 kV substation at Pokhariya, and extension of Parwanipur substation to the first quarter. Earlier, the re-conductoring of the 17-kilometer 132 kV double circuit transmission through high-temperature low-sage conductor had already been completed. The line will come into operation from January 2025.

Similarly, control room, staff quarters, store, guard house, foundation of equipment and transformer are being constructed at Pokhariya substation. The design of four circuit towers has been approved and revised preliminary environmental tests have been approved. The construction agreement has already been signed with the Chinese company after completing the bidding process. The project is expected to be completed by September 2027.