An additional 100 MW of electricity from Kulekhani Reservoir, expected to reduce dependence on India

Nepal Electricity Authority has put forward an ambitious plan to build a hydropower project based on pump storage technology in Indrasarovar Reservoir at Kulekhani in Makwanpur. If this project is successful, the authority believes that there will be a significant reduction in energy imports from India during the dry season of winter. This 100 megawatt capacity 'Kulekhani Sisneri Pump Reservoir Hydropower Project', which will be operational in the near future, will be Nepal's first pump-storage hydropower project. In this technology, the water stored in the reservoir will be released into the Kulekhani river during peak energy demand to generate electricity and then the released water will be stored in the lower reservoir. Again at times when energy demand is low, the same water will be pumped back into Indrasarovar. This process will raise and lower the water level of the reservoir to produce more electricity.

While preparing the detailed project report (DPR) of the project and carrying out the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, the authority is discussing and collecting opinions with the local residents of the affected area, concerned agencies and residents of the ward. According to Devkrishna Pudasaini, Chairman of Indrasarovar Rural Municipality, Ward No. 1, 2 and 3 of the rural municipality will be affected by the project. Human settlements, physical, economic, social and environmental impacts have been intensively discussed.

As directed, this project will utilize the existing Indrasarovar reservoir as an upstream reservoir. In addition, a new 36-meter high dam will be constructed on the Kulekhani river, about 3 km downstream from the dam site of the reservoir, to create a lower reservoir, which will have a storage capacity of 1.54 million cubic meters. Indrasarovar water will be pumped to the proposed power plant through a 1.9 km long tunnel and the water released from the tailrace will be stored in a lower reservoir.

When the project operates at full capacity, the water level of Indrasarovar will decrease by a maximum of 20 meters and the water level of the lower reservoir by a maximum of 23.5 meters. Two turbines with a capacity of 50 MW per unit will be installed in the power house and the total cost of the project is estimated to reach 15 billion rupees. At present, a total of 106 MW of electricity is being generated from all the three projects (first, second and third) of Kulekhani. However, with the passage of time, the capacity of the reservoir to collect water has decreased due to stones, soil and other materials flowing from the watershed area. The reservoir, which initially had a water holding capacity of 85.3 million cusecs, has now reduced its capacity to 59.99 million cusecs. Due to this, the electricity production has decreased by 30 percent and the annual loss is more than 31 million rupees. It seems that if the conservation and maintenance of reservoirs and 'debris' management can be made effective, it will contribute more to the country's energy security by utilizing its full potential.