Nepal Achieves Electrification Milestone with New 400 kV Substation in Hetauda

KATHMANDU:  Nepal has reached a significant milestone in its electrification efforts with the completion of a 400 kV substation, one of the country’s largest, in Thana Bharyang, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City-11, Makwanpur. This substation marks a major advancement in strengthening and expanding Nepal’s electricity transmission and distribution network.

Utilizing cutting-edge Gas Insulated System (GIS) technology, the third-largest substation in Nepal was officially charged and put into operation on Friday. Alongside the 400 kV substation, 220 kV and 132/11 kV substations in Thana Bharyang were also activated, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

The Hetauda substation is part of a trio of GIS automated substations, which includes facilities in Dhalkebar and Inaruwa. These substations are integral to the Nepal-India Transmission and Trade Project, designed to enhance reliable electricity supply across the East-West corridor and facilitate power trade with India. The infrastructure is capable of transmitting approximately 4,000 MW of electricity.

The completion of the Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa 400 kV transmission line project will enable the transfer of 4,000 MW of electricity from Dhalkebar across the East-West corridor. This will significantly bolster domestic electricity supply and expand power trade with India. The Dhalkebar-Inaruwa section is in its final phase, while the Hetauda-Dhalkebar section remains under construction.

Despite delays caused by local obstructions in parts of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, construction progress continues in areas without obstructions. NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising emphasized that the completion of the Hetauda substation will enhance reliable and quality electricity supply to regions including Hetauda, Bharatpur, Simara, and Birgunj.

It will also facilitate the integration of electricity produced by hydropower projects in central river corridors into the national grid, with surplus power exported to India via the Hetauda-Dhalkebar 400 kV transmission line.

Project Chief Shukra Devkota highlighted that the substation is designed for future expansions. Additionally, a 400 kV double circuit transmission line from Ratmate, Nuwakot, part of the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project, will be connected to the Hetauda substation.

Initiated under the National Electricity Development Decade Program, the Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa 400 kV substation expansion project received joint investment from the government and the NEA. All three substations under this project have now been completed.

Despite challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, which impacted the delivery of equipment and technical personnel, the project was completed within the estimated cost of three billion rupees.

Financing for the substation construction was provided by government and NEA investments, along with concessional loans from the World Bank under the Nepal-India Transmission and Trade Project.