Kaligandaki corridor achieves milestone: 220 kV transmission line completed for 1200 MW electricity transmission

KATHMANDU: The construction of the 220 kV double-circuit transmission line in the Kaligandaki Corridor has been completed, which is a vital step towards achieving electricity transmission of up to 1200 megawatts.

This transmission line project extends approximately 140 kilometers from Myagdi’s Annapurna Rural Municipality-3, Danasubstation, starting from Parbat, Baglung, Syangja, Palpa, and Rupandehi, reaching New Butwal Municipality-13, Sunwal, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) Substation.

The Nepal Electricity Authority divided the transmission line into two segments. The first section, covering approximately 40 kilometers from Dana to Kushma Municipality-2 Khurkot, is already in operation.

The first segment includes substations at Kushma Municipality-2 Khurkot and Dana, each with 220/132 kV capacity transformers.

The second section, spanning approximately 90 kilometers from Kushma to New Butwal Substation, was charged and put into operation on Monday. This section features the construction of 236 towers.

A 220 kV four-circuit (multi-circuit) line is being constructed from New Butwal Municipality-13 Baderi to New Butwal Substation, with the installation of towers for New Butwal Substation. The New Butwal Substation has been constructed for the 220 kV circuit.

After the operation of this section, electricity from the Kaligandaki Corridor transmission line can be supplied to Modi from Kushma Substation, and from there, it can be further transmitted to New Butwal. The capacity of the New Butwal–Bardaghat section is 220 kV.

Kul Man Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority stated that the operation of the Kaligandaki Corridor transmission line would enhance the reliability of the unified power system and address the power shortages in various regions, including Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, and parts of Myagdi.

“The completion of the transmission line capacity will enable the excess electricity generated within the region to be exported to India,” Ghising explained.

The construction of the transmission line, coupled with the recently inaugurated Butwal-Gorakhpur 400 kV second cross-border transmission line project funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), will enable the export of Nepal’s electricity to India from New Butwal to Bardaghat.