Menu

37.5 MW Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat hydropower project begins trial production

Fiscal Nepal
KATHMANDU: The 37.5 MW Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat Hydropower Project, located in Raghuganga Rural Municipality, Myagdi, has commenced trial electricity production, marking a significant milestone for Nepal’s energy sector. Promoted by Tudi Power Company Limited, the project has successfully completed testing of its key infrastructure, including the dam, water retention pond (desander), and tunnel, paving the way for integration into the national grid.
Tudi Power representative Indra Dhakal confirmed that the trial phase, expected to conclude within 15 days, has shown promising results. Upon completion, the project’s electricity will be connected to the central transmission line, boosting Nepal’s hydropower capacity. The project, which began construction in December 2020, features a dam and a 110-meter-long, 8-meter-high, and 30-meter-wide desander in Bandi, Raghuganga-8. Water from the dam is channeled through a 5.3-kilometer tunnel to a powerhouse in Bagar, Chimkhola (Raghuganga-7), via a 950-meter penstock pipeline, as detailed by resident engineer Prakash Timilsina.
The powerhouse, situated 360 meters below the tunnel’s outlet, was built with civil contractors Ramechhap Sherpa and South Asian Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., who excavated the tunnel from four access points. Hydro-mechanical and electro-mechanical works were handled by Machhapuchhre, BMWW Nepal, and Everest Hydro, respectively. A 14-kilometer, 220 kV transmission line, supported by 49 towers, connects the powerhouse to a switchyard at the Rahughat Hydropower Project’s premises in Tilkenichaur, Raghuganga-3. The electricity will be integrated into the 220 kV Dana-Kushma transmission line via a “loop-in, loop-out” (LILO) system.
The Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat project, alongside Tudi Power’s 48.5 MW Upper Rahughat Hydropower Project, represents a combined investment of NPR 14 billion. The Upper Rahughat project, also nearing completion, will further enhance the region’s energy output. The Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat project is the first hydropower facility completed in the Rahughat River basin, setting a precedent for other ongoing projects, including the 40 MW Rahughat, 21.3 MW Thulokhola, and 22.3 MW Upper Thulokhola, all nearing completion.
This development aligns with Nepal’s ambition to harness its vast hydropower potential, with Myagdi district alone hosting 11 under-construction projects set to add 390 MW to the national grid. The Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat project’s trial production is a critical step toward reducing Nepal’s reliance on imported energy and stabilizing domestic power supply. However, challenges such as difficult terrain and transmission infrastructure limitations persist, as noted in regional reports.
Local communities and officials have welcomed the project’s progress, citing improved access roads and economic opportunities. “This project not only generates electricity but also transforms our region’s infrastructure,” said a local leader from Raghuganga. With trial production underway, the project is poised to contribute significantly to Nepal’s energy security, provided the final testing phase proceeds smoothly.
The successful operation of this project could serve as a model for other hydropower initiatives in Nepal, where over 3,400 MW of installed capacity is already operational, primarily from hydropower. As the nation continues to develop its renewable energy resources, the Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat Hydropower Project stands as a testament to Nepal’s growing expertise in tackling complex energy projects in challenging geographies.
Fiscal Nepal |
Monday June 23, 2025, 11:32:54 AM |

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending News

World Business

Trump administration orders sweeping immigration review following national guard shooting incident

Trump administration orders sweeping immigration review following national guard shooting incident

Ousted leader Sheikh Hasina gets death sentence over protest violence; Terror and political fallout loom

Ousted leader Sheikh Hasina gets death sentence over protest violence; Terror and political fallout loom

China moves to ban influencers without degrees from commenting on finance, health, law and education

China moves to ban influencers without degrees from commenting on finance, health, law and education

Trump-Xi summit in South Korea yields major breakthrough on tariffs and trade framework

Trump-Xi summit in South Korea yields major breakthrough on tariffs and trade framework

Nepal targets 15,000 MW renewable power export by 2035, Minister Ghising calls for South Asian regional energy integration

Nepal targets 15,000 MW renewable power export by 2035, Minister Ghising calls for South Asian regional energy integration

Fusemachines on Nasdaq, Marking a major leap in Global AI Innovation

Fusemachines on Nasdaq, Marking a major leap in Global AI Innovation

IMF revise Nepal’s growth forecast to 5.2 pc, Citing domestic weakness and global slowdown

IMF revise Nepal’s growth forecast to 5.2 pc, Citing domestic weakness and global slowdown

Latest News

Seven NEA grid substations upgraded to automated system

Seven NEA grid substations upgraded to automated system

IndiGo to cancel nearly 400 flights as pilot shortage deepens across major Indian airports

IndiGo to cancel nearly 400 flights as pilot shortage deepens across major Indian airports

11 commercial banks announce dividends

11 commercial banks announce dividends

Nepal’s industrial growth stalled by decades old policies and outdated laws

Nepal’s industrial growth stalled by decades old policies and outdated laws

© Copyright 2020. FiscalNepal.com. Website Design and Developed by Genesis Web Technology