Electricity of Marsyangdi-Kathmandu transmission line to be brought to capital

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KATHMANDU, JANUARY 1: The Marsyangdi-Kathmandu transmission line and substation, designed to transport electricity generated from hydropower projects in the Marsyangdi River basin to Kathmandu, have been successfully completed and are now operational.

A 220/132 kV substation, utilizing cutting-edge Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS) technology, is established in Markichok, Ambukhaireni Rural Municipality, Tanahun. This substation, a key component of the Marsyangdi-Kathmandu 220 kV transmission line project, was successfully energized yesterday.

With the energization of the Markichok substation, the entire 82-kilometre transmission line has been activated, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Kulman Ghising, the Executive Director of NEA, emphasized that the operationalization of the Markichok substation signifies a crucial milestone. It establishes the necessary infrastructure to transmit electricity from hydropower projects within the Marsyangdi River corridor to the Kathmandu Valley at 220 kV.

This development is expected to significantly enhance the voltage stability of the nation's integrated power system, leading to a more reliable, abundant, and high-quality electricity supply.

Furthermore, Ghising highlighted that upon the completion of the currently under-construction Markichok-Bharatpur section of the Marsyangdi Corridor Transmission Line Project, the transmission of electricity to Bharatpur will also become feasible. The project is progressing steadily with the aim of completing the Markichok-Bharatpur section by the upcoming Jestha (mid-May).

The construction of the transmission line, along with the substations in Markichok and Matatirtha in Kathmandu, was undertaken to facilitate the efficient supply of electricity from hydropower projects in the Marsyangdi River basin to the Kathmandu Valley and to bolster the strength of the country's integrated power system.

The Matatirtha substation, already operational since last Baisakh, is equipped with two 160/160 MVA power transformers, resulting in a combined capacity of 320/320 MVA for both substations.

The Marsyangdi-Kathmandu transmission line and the Trishuli-Kathmandu 220 kV transmission line, constructed to bring electricity from the Trishuli River basin to the Kathmandu Valley, is also strategically interconnected at Badbhanjyang in Chandragiri Municipality. This interconnection allows for a multi-circuit (four circuits) configuration, effectively integrating both transmission lines into the Matatirtha substation.

Through this interconnected system, approximately 1,000 megawatts of electricity from each of the Marsyangdi-Kathmandu and Trishuli-Kathmandu transmission lines will converge at Badbhanjyang. Subsequently, a total of approximately 2,000 megawatts of electricity will be transmitted via the multi-circuit transmission line and integrated into the Matatirtha substation.

Due to unsatisfactory performance by the initially contracted company, the construction of the Matatirtha and Markichok substations under the Marsyangdi-Kathmandu Transmission Line Project underwent a significant change. In Poush 2077, a new contract was awarded to China Machinery Engineering Corporation to oversee the continuation of the remaining construction work. Project chief Laxman Fuyal estimates the total cost of both substations to be around Rs. 1.25 billion.

The initiation of the said project was made possible through a collaborative effort, with investments from the Government of Nepal and the NEA, coupled with a generous grant from the Norwegian government and a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank.