The Upper Karnali Storage Hydropower Project is a proposed run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant on the Karnali river in Nepal. It will have an installed capacity of 900 MW, making it the largest hydropower plant in Nepal when achieved.[1] However, most of the generated power is set to be exported to both Bangladesh (about 500 MW) and India (another 292 MW), via a 400 kV double circuit transmission line, with the only remaining 108 MW of total power dedicated to local consumption.[2]
| Upper Karnali Hydropower Project | |
|---|---|
  Location of Upper Karnali Hydropower Project in Nepal | |
| Official name | Upper Karnali Hydropower Project |
| Location | Nepal |
| Coordinates | 28°55′23″N 81°28′20″E / 28.92306°N 81.47222°E |
| Status | Proposed |
| Construction began | unknown |
| Opening date | 2024 (est.) |
| Owner(s) | Nepal Electricity Authority |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity |
| Impounds | Karnali River |
| Height | 64 m (210 ft) |
| Length | 207 m (679 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Surface area | 1.96 km² |
| Upper Karnali Hydropower Station | |
| Coordinates | 28°54′02″N 81°26′40″E / 28.90056°N 81.44444°E |
| Commission date | 2024 (est.) |
| Type | Run-of-the-river |
| Hydraulic head | 159.26 m (522.5 ft) |
| Turbines | 8 x 112.5 MW Francis-type |
| Installed capacity | 900 MW |
First planned in the 1990s as a smaller-scale 240 MW facility, the current 900 MW design was approved in 2008. A much larger 4,180 MW generation eventuality was identified on the same site during the feasibility studies, but this option was not selected.[3] As of February 2020, the Power Purchase Agreement was hoped to be signed within 3 months, which might give a boost to the long-delayed project.[4]
The expected cost of the dam is $1.5 Billion, partly funded by the Asian Development Bank, and its construction should employ an estimated 3,000 workers during 5 years.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Upper Karnali Hydropower Project, on Karnali River, Nepal". Retrieved 2020-04-10.
- ^ a b "Bangladesh issues letter of intent to purchase 500 MW from Upper Karnali hydro project". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
- ^ Bhushal, Ramesh (8 January 2019). "Dams and dreams – a journey down the Karnali". The Third Pole. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
- ^ "Upper Karnali Hydropower Project likely to sign PPA by May". My Republica. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
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