Solu Corridor 132 KV double circuit transmission line has come into operation. The transmission line constructed to supply electricity to the national grid from the hydropower projects in the Solukhola watershed has been delayed for about three years.
The transmission line, which was constructed with the investment of the Government of Nepal and a concessional loan from the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM), was brought into operation by charging at 11.30 am on Monday, said Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Executive Director KulmanGhising.
The length of the transmission line from Mirchaiya of Siraha to Tingla of Dudhkund Municipality of Solukhumbu via Udaipur and Okhaldhunga is 90 kilometers and the number of towers is 302.
Under the Solu Corridor Transmission Line Project, substations of 132/33 KV, 30 MVA, and 33/11 KV, 8 MVA capacity have been constructed in Tingla. The substation has been completed and is operational from 24 August 2019. Electricity will now be supplied to Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, and Khotang from Tingla substation.
Ghising, executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), said that the construction of the project was delayed due to a dispute over the selection of a contractor, the interim order of the Supreme Court, obstruction from locals demanding a change of route, and complicated geographical conditions.
‘Infrastructure has been prepared for the flow of electricity from private sector hydropower projects in the Solu River Basin.Ghising said that the problem of power flow has been solved due to the lack of transmission infrastructure of the 23.5 MW Solu Khola and the hydropower project under construction which could not run at full capacity during the rainy season.
“Once the project’s electricity flows into the Solu Corridor, it can be diverted from Mirchaiya to Saptari, Sunsari, Morang, and other districts to supply our own products. It will also be easier to export surplus electricity to India from Dhalkebar substation,” he said.
He said that the power supply from Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, and Khotang would be reliable and of high quality as leakage would be provided from Tingla substation.
The electricity of 23.5 MW Solu Khola, 18 MW Upper Solu, 86 MW Solu Khola (Dudhkoshi), 82 MW Lower Solu Khola and other hydropower projects will be connected to Tingla substation. NEA has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) of 325 MW with 12 hydropower projects in the area after the construction of this transmission line.
The 23.5 MW Solu Khola Hydropower Project was temporarily connected to the 33 KV line from the last falgun after the construction of the Solu Corridor transmission line was delayed.
There was an obstruction in Maruwa, Katari Municipality-4 of Udayapur for two years demanding relocation of the transmission line. Project Chief Janardan Gautam said that there were many problems and obstacles in the construction of the Solu Corridor Transmission Line project and other projects should be constructed while learning lessons from it.
A contract agreement was signed with the Indian company Mohan Energy in March 2016 for the construction of the transmission line. The contract agreement was implemented in September 2016.
Karuna Thapa
