Wet test of Seti River hydropower project begins

August 14, Kathmandu: The wet test of the Seti River Hydropower Project, located in Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality in Kaski district, has commenced.

This test, which involves filling water and rotating the turbine, is being conducted on the 25-megawatt hydropower project. Water was channelled from the dam site into the penstock pipe as part of the test, according to the project’s Manager, Engineer Lekhnath Pandey.

The wet test was performed following a traditional ritual at the headworks of the project site in Rajbagar, Sardi Khola, located in Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality-2.

The wet test follows the successful completion of the dry test, Pandey added.

The Seti River Hydropower Project, which is promoted by Vision Lumbini Energy Company, is expected to begin trial production of electricity within the next two weeks.

The project utilizes the water from the Seti River, which is diverted into a 6,400-meter-long underground tunnel. Electricity will be generated by dropping the water from a height of 187 meters at Chinte Bagar. The water will power twin turbines, each with a capacity of 12.5 megawatts.

This is a run-of-river type of hydropower project. Vision Lumbini Energy Company’s Chairperson, Jagat Bahadur Pokharel, expressed gratitude for the strong support received from local residents and the local government.

According to Pokharel, the project has attracted significant investment from the local community. So far, the total investment has reached Rs 5 billion, with over Rs 3.5 billion provided by banks and financial institutions. The remaining funds were raised through promoters, local residents, and an Initial Public Offering (IPO).

The electricity generated by the project will be integrated into the national grid.