Kathmandu. With the aim of addressing the growing electricity demand in the Kathmandu Valley, the Nepal Electricity Authority is constructing half a dozen substations of various capacities. It is believed that after the completion of these structures, the electricity flow in the valley will become more qualitative and reliable.
The construction of six substations of 132/11 kV capacity at various places in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur to improve the transmission and distribution system is in the final stage. According to the authority, the Teku substation in Kathmandu has already come into operation.
Similarly, the construction of Futung and Mulpani substations is in the final stage. It is said that both the substations will be operational within the next two months. The construction of Changunarayan substation in Bhaktapur has been completed. All that remains is to bring the substations into operation. The Chobhar substation is being constructed to be operational by the coming Ashar and the Thimi substation in Bhaktapur within the next eight months.
The capacity of these substations is 90-90 MVA. Once the construction of the substation is completed and operational, the infrastructure to supply an additional 500 MW of electricity to the Kathmandu Valley will be ready. The current electricity demand in the Kathmandu Valley is around 500 MW.
To address the potential increase in electricity demand in the future, the NEA has set a deadline of 2050 and has taken forward the construction process of transmission and distribution infrastructure in major areas of the Kathmandu Valley in a phased manner. Projecting that the peak demand for electricity in the Kathmandu Valley will reach 3,100 megawatts by 2050, the NEA has taken forward the construction process of 20 new substations of 220, 132, 33 and 11 kV levels.
The land required for the construction of the substations has been acquired. The survey and preparatory work have been completed to construct a 220 kV ring with a total of 220 kV transmission structure surrounding the outer perimeter of the Kathmandu Valley.
The Lapsiphedi substation with a capacity of 400/220, 220/132 and 132/11 kV is under construction to supply electricity to the Kathmandu Valley from the hydroelectric projects built in the Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi river basins. To make the power supply of Kathmandu Valley reliable, quality and modern, projects such as construction of new substations, automation of existing substations, undergrounding of electrical wires, addition and strengthening of new feeders and transformers are underway.
Executive Director of the Authority, Kulman Ghising, informed that the construction of physical infrastructure has been accelerated to meet the growing demand for electricity in the valley and to make the supply reliable and quality.
To improve the power supply in the south-eastern region of Kathmandu, the construction of a 132/11 kV substation in Mulpani of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality is in the final stage. The Chapali-Bhaktapur 132 kV transmission line will be connected to the Mulpani substation and electricity will be supplied. Eight feeders of 11 kV capacity have been taken out from the substation to supply electricity to Jadibuti, Pepsicola, Kandaghari, Gothatar, Mulpani, Jorpati, Sankhu, Thimi and other areas. Work is underway to bring the substation into operation by next Chaitra.
A 132 kV underground line will be built from Chobhar Substation through the Ring Road to reach Lagankhel Substation in Lalitpur. Lagankhel Substation is being strengthened and upgraded to 132 kV capacity. Then, in the coming days, the line will be connected underground to Chapagaun and Harisiddhi.
The transmission and distribution system reform is being carried out with investment from the Government of Nepal and the Authority, and concessional loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the World Bank.
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