94 Percent Physical Progress of Middle Tamor Hydropower Project (73 MW) Achieved
November 1, 2023 | Investopaper
The Middle Tamor Hydropower Project, under construction in Taplejung, has almost completed 94 percent of the overall construction works. The primary civil works are almost 96% finished, while the hydro-mechanical components stand at 85% completion. Electro-mechanical aspects have reached 87% progress, and the transmission line works are at 93%.
The COVID pandemic, the Hewa Khola bridge collapse, scarcity of explosives, geological overbreaks treatment, and the delay in the completion of the transmission line from Dhunge Sanghu to Basantapur resulted in the delay of construction. As a result, the RCOD for the project has been revised to February 27, 2024 (Falgun 15, 2080), aligning it with the completion of the contingency evacuation arrangement for the 220 kV transmission line from Dhungesanghu to Basantapur Substation.
Construction Progress of Middle Tamor Hydropower Project (73 MW)
| S.N | Particulars | Construction Progress |
| 1 | Main Civil Works including Contingency utilized | 96% |
| 1.1 | Headworks | 98% |
| 1.2 | Underground Works (HRT) | 94% |
| 1.3 | Underground Works (SB and others) | 86% |
| 1.4 | Underground Works (Surge Shaft and ventilation) | 100% |
| 1.5 | Powerhouse, Control bay and Tailrace | 98% |
| 1.6 | Penstock and anchor block | 66% |
| 1.7 | General items | 100% |
| 2 | Hydro-mechanical Works | 85% |
| 3 | Electro-mechanical Works | 87% |
| 4 | Transmission Line Works | 93% |
| 5 | Infrastructure Development Works | 99% |
| Overall Physical Progress | 94% |
The Project’s revised total cost is approximately Rs. 13.33 Arba. Within this project budget, the equity component amounts to Rs. 3.33 Arba while the debt stands at Rs. 10 Arba. The promoter’s equity share, constituting 70% of the total equity or Rs. 2.33 Arba has been fully paid. Moreover, the public equity share, making up 30% of the total equity or Rs. 99.97, has also been entirely settled, resulting in the Company’s listing on the Nepal Stock Exchange. The debt portion has been organized through a consortium of 8 commercial banks, with Nepal Investment Mega Bank Ltd. as the lead bank.
To date, approximately 81% of the total project cost has been expended.
About Middle Tamor Hydropower Project
Middle Tamor Hydropower Project is a run-of-river (RoR) type project with an installed capacity of 73 MW. It is situated in Phungling Municipality and Phaktanglung Rural Municipality of Taplejung district. The Powerhouse located in Mikwakhola Rural Municipality, is positioned on the right bank of the Tamor River.
Sanima Middle Tamor Hydropower Ltd. is the developer of the project.
Initially, the Generation License for the project was granted for 54 MW on June 5, 2017. Later, the project design was revised, and a new generation license was obtained on December 10, 2018, for the increased capacity of 73 MW.
The project boasts an installed capacity of 73 MW, with a design discharge of 73.71 m3/s, corresponding to a flow exceeding 42.71%. The project’s catchment area covers 2,002 km2, and the gross head is 132 m.
As per the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the estimated annual energy generation is 429.409 GWh. The electricity generated will be transmitted through an approximately 9 km long 220 kV double circuit transmission line to the Dhunge Sanghu substation of the Koshi Corridor, which is under construction by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
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