Cable stringing work on Upper Trishuli-Matatirtha transmission line begins

Published On: October 25, 2018 08:28 AM NPT By: Bhagawati Lama

NUWAKOT, Oct 25: Stringing work on Upper Trishuli-Matatirtha (Kathmandu) of 220 KVA transmission line started from Wednesday.

The transmission line is important to connect power generated by hydropower plants in Trishuli River basin, including Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project, to the national grid. The first unit of the 60-megawatt plant is expected to start generation of 30 MW of energy by January next year.

Fanindra Raj Joshi, project manager of Upper Trishuli 3A, told Republica that they were working in coordination with officials of the transmission line project to make sure that stringing work is completed by December so that there is no problem in evacuating power generated by the project. “Now that the stringing work has begun, we are confident that there will be no problem in evacuating energy generated by our project,” added Joshi.

The transmission line holds strategic importance for Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) as it is the only way to evacuate energy generated by hydropower plants in Trishuli River basin that have combined installed capacity of near 900 MW. Hydropower projects like Rasuwagadhi (111 MW), Upper Sanjen (14.8 MW), Lower Sanjen (42.5 MW), Upper Trishuli I (210 MW), Trishuli 3 (60 MW), Upper Trishuli 3B (37 MW), Middle Trishuli Ganga (65 MW) and Galchhi Hydropower (75 MW) are under different phases of construction in the Trishuli River basin.

The transmission line project has already installed all 140 pylons. Stringing and sagging cable is the only remaining work, according to NEA officials. “We have overcome all the hurdles in erecting pylons and laying cables. Now, we are hopeful that the remaining works will progress smoothly,” added Joshi.

Chinese firm, China International Water and Electric Corporation Company Limited, is building the transmission line at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 billion. The transmission line project work began in 2011. However, its work couldn’t progress much initially due to problem in clearing forest land and acquiring land for the project.