Country Nepal Purpose Power Opening date 2002 Opened 2002 Impound Gandaki River | Location Mirmi, Syangja Status Operational Height 44 m Construction began 1997 | |
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Official name Kaligandaki A Hydroelectric Power Station Owner Nepal Electricity Authority Construction cost 354.8 million USD (50 billion Nepali Rupees) Similar Upper Tamakoshi Hydroele, Pharping Hydropower Station, Marshyangdi, Chilime Hydropower Plant, West Seti Dam | ||
Kaligandaki A Hydroelectric Power Station is situated near Mirmi of Syangja District about 300 km to the west of Kathmandu and 100 km from Pokhara in the same direction in Nepal. The dam and headworks are situated on the Gandaki River at the confluence of the Andhikhola whereas the power house is located downstream, around a bend in the river, in Beltari (About 7 km towards the South-East of Mirmi). A 5.9 km (3.7 mi) long headrace tunnel connects the reservoir to the power station which contains three 48 MW Francis turbine-generators. Owner and operator of the power plant is Nepal Electricity Authority.
It is a run-of-river type of project and currently is the largest power plant of any kind in Nepal with an installed capacity of 144 MW. Construction started in the year 1997 and was completed in the year 2002. The three turbine & generators Toshiba Make were commissioned in March, April and May 2002. It was constructed primarily to curb the ever increasing energy demand at that time and eliminate loadshedding prevalent due to the imbalance in demand and supply of energy. It was constructed with the financial aid of the Asian Development Bank with total costs reaching US$354.8 million (50 billion NPR (approx)).
Transmission line
The power generated by the three turbines is evacuated to the central grid via a 132kV single circuit, a 66 kilometres (41 mi) long transmission line to Pokhara, and a 44 kilometres (27 mi) double circuit transmission line to Butwal. The electricity is sent to Lekhnath Municipality and Butwal (known as Butwal-1 and Butwal-2). A sub-station has been constructed in Lekhnath Municipality, Kaski district and the existing Jogikuti substation in Butwal has been upgraded.