Lower Solukhola hydro project nears completion

Solukhumbu, Feb 6: Construction of the Lower Solukhola Hydropower project has neared completion. The hydropower project of 82-megawatt capacity achieved 95 percent physical progress to date.

It is being built at Tingla in the district. The construction of the powerhouse, tunnelway, and installation of a turbine and generator, among others, have been completed in the project promoted by Lower Solu Hydropower Company. Company manager Dharmendra Gotame said the breakthrough of the penstock tunnel would be made soon.

“We are planning to launch the commercial production of hydropower this coming July,” he shared. Even the transmission line has seen 80 percent progress. The project was launched in September 2016 with an investment of Rs 16 billion provided as a loan by the European Bank (International Funding Agency), including FMO.

The project’s completion has been aimed for before September 2025. It is a reservoir-based project. The reservoir has been set up in the Salme area of Solukhumbu. The water is supplied through a tunnelway to the powerhouse set up at Bhadaure of Tingla, located some 6 km away from Salme.

The estimated cost of the project would increase because of geographical difficulty and a long tunnelway. There are a total of 700 workers on the project. Even the locals have got jobs. With the completion of the project, the national transmission line would receive 23 MW of power in winter, and 82 MW of power in the rainy season. —RSS