40 MW Rahughat hydropower project connected to national grid

लगानी न्यूज

९ आश्विन २०८३, शुक्रबार १३:२०September 25, 2026

Kathmandu. The 40 MW Rahughat Hydropower Project is connected to the national transmission system.

Raghuganga Hydropower Limited, a subsidiary of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has started generating electricity from two units of 20 MW each in Raghuganga Rural Municipality.TAG_OPEN_div_50

The electricity generated from the project has been evacuated to the national grid through 220KV Kaligandaki Corridor transmission line.TAG_OPEN_div_48

According to the power purchase agreement between the project and the Nepal Electricity Authority, the test generation will now be announced. After the test for 15 days, commercial power generation will start from the project.TAG_OPEN_div_46

Managing Director of NEA and chairman of Raghuganga Hydropower Ltd’s Board of Directors Dirgha Kumar Shrestha said that the project was completed despite challenges like Covid-19 pandemic, flood and other challenges.TAG_OPEN_div_44

He said that the project would play a significant role in the management of electricity demand during the dry season as it could be operated at full capacity for four hours daily during the evening time during peak demand.TAG_OPEN_div_42

The project will generate 247.9 million units of electricity annually. About 34 per cent of the total annual energy will be generated during the dry season. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 9.17 billion, excluding interest during the construction period.TAG_OPEN_div_40

The project was financed by the Government of Nepal and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and concessional loan under the Line of Credit of Exim Bank of India.TAG_OPEN_div_38

The contract agreement was signed with Jaya Prakash Associates Limited, India on November 21, 2017 to complete the civil structure and hydro-mechanical works of the project in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model.TAG_OPEN_div_36

The agreement came into effect from 10th Jestha 2075. The contract for electromechanical work was signed with Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited on 28th October 2019.

TAG_OPEN_div_32 The project was constructed by WAPCOS Limited, India. The initial capacity of the Rahughat Hydropower Project was 32 MW.

TAG_OPEN_div_30 The contract was canceled after the contractor was found to be underperforming during the construction of the contract.

After this, it was decided to increase the capacity of the project to 40 MW and construct it in company model through a subsidiary company of NEA.TAG_OPEN_div_28

Accordingly, the construction of the project was proceeded through a new contract agreement.