Where Is Khimti Hydroelectric Project Situated?

Nepal has tremendous potential for hydroelectric power due to its geography and abundant water resources from rainfall and glacial runoff. Harnessing this potential can help meet Nepal’s growing energy needs and support economic development. However, only about 2% of Nepal’s technically feasible hydroelectric potential has been utilized so far. There are challenges around financing large projects, environmental impacts, resettlement of affected communities, and balancing export of electricity vs domestic use.

This article provides an overview of the Khimti Hydropower Project in Nepal. The Khimti project was one of the first large-scale hydropower projects developed in Nepal through a public-private partnership model. It illustrates both the potential and challenges associated with hydroelectric development in the country. The goal is to give readers a comprehensive understanding of this notable project – its purpose, location, major components, economic and environmental considerations, and role in Nepal’s energy landscape.

Table of Contents

Overview of the Khimti Hydropower Project

The Khimti Hydropower Project is located in the Dolakha and Ramechhap districts of Nepal’s Bagmati zone, approximately 110 kilometers northeast of Kathmandu. It utilizes the waters of the Khimti Khola river and is Nepal’s first private sector hydropower project. The project was developed by Himal Power Limited (HPL), which was formed as a joint venture between the Nepalese company Himal Hydro and the Norwegian power company Statkraft (GreenInsights Nepal’s Post).

The Khimti project consists of two stages – Khimti I and Khimti II. Khimti I is a run-of-river project with an installed capacity of 60 MW that began commercial operation in 2000. Khimti II, completed in 2014, added an additional 48 MW of capacity, bringing the total installed capacity of the Khimti project to 108 MW. The project was designed to provide clean energy to Nepal’s national grid and help meet the country’s energy demands (ADB).

Construction on Khimti I began in 1992 and was financed by a combination of equity investment and loans from development banks and commercial lenders. It was the first hydropower project in Nepal to be developed under a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model, whereby the private developer financed and constructed the project and operated it for a period before transferring ownership to the government. Khimti I set an important precedent for attracting private investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector (ADB).

Khimti I Hydropower Plant

The Khimti I Hydropower Plant is a run-of-river plant located in the Khimti Khola river basin in Ramechhap District, Nepal. It has an installed capacity of 60 MW and utilizes a gross head of 660 meters. The flow rate is 11.65 m3/s (Wikipedia).

There are two Francis turbine generators at the powerhouse, each with a capacity of 30 MW. The turbines were manufactured by Voith Hydro GmbH & Co in Germany. The plant operates at a power factor of 0.85 lagging and generates about 355 GWh of electricity annually (HPL).

A 2.5 meter high diversion weir across the Khimti Khola diverts water into a 5.175 km long headrace tunnel leading to a surge tank and steel penstock pipes. The water is discharged back into the Khimti Khola river after passing through the turbines (Nepal Energy Forum).

Khimti II Hydropower Plant

The Khimti II Hydropower Plant is an 48.8 MW hydropower plant located on the Khimti Khola River in the Ramechhap District of Nepal (Source). It utilizes water from the Khimti Khola River, which has a catchment area of 317.94 km2 and a design discharge of 24.5 m3/s (Source).

The Khimti II plant has 2 Pelton turbines with a capacity of 24.4 MW each, for a total installed capacity of 48.8 MW. The gross head of the project is 489 meters. The project also includes a 5.2 km headrace tunnel, surge tank, penstock, and powerhouse (Source).

The annual energy generation from Khimti II is expected to be 246 GWh. Construction on the project began in 2018 and it is expected to be completed by 2021.

Purpose and Impact

The Khimti Hydropower Project was conceived in the early 1990s to help meet Nepal’s growing demand for electricity (Prime Minister’s Office of Nepal, 1995). As mentioned by PMO of Nepal (1995), various studies concluded that harnessing the hydropower potential of the Khimti River in the early 1990s could provide Nepal with additional renewable energy and increase electrification in the country

According to ADB (2006), the main purpose of the Khimti project was to generate electricity to alleviate power shortages during peak demand periods in Nepal. The added generation capacity helped improve reliability and quality of electricity supply in Kathmandu and surrounding areas.

The Khimti project has had significant impacts on the region. As noted by DFO (2017), the project improved living standards and income levels through rural electrification. It also aided industrial development and boosted economic activity in areas connected to the power grid.

Overall, the Khimti Hydropower Project was developed to harness Nepal’s hydropower resources, provide additional electricity to meet growing demand, improve electrification rates, and stimulate socioeconomic growth in the country (ADB, 2006). Its increased generation capacity has aided Nepal in meeting electricity needs and powering development.

Construction and Development

The Khimti Hydropower Project was developed by Himal Power Limited, which was jointly owned by the Nepalese Government and Norway’s Statkraft (https://globalenergyobservatory.org/geoid/40485). Construction on the Khimti I plant began in 1991 and was completed in 2000. The main civil works contractor was Dabur Nepal Ltd, while the electro-mechanical equipment was supplied and installed by Kvaerner Energy (now GE Hydro) (https://kudos.dfo.no/documents/33560/files/29914.pdf).

Major milestones during construction included:

Completion of the headrace tunnel in 1994
Impounding of the reservoir in 1998
Installation of the first generating unit in 1999

Commissioning of all three 60MW Francis generating units in July 2000

Construction on the 36MW Khimti II expansion began in 2008 and was completed in 2012 by Himal Power Limited. This brought the total installed capacity of the Khimti Hydropower Project to 96MW.

Transmission Lines

The Khimti Hydropower Project connects to the national and regional electric grid through multiple transmission lines and substations. According to “60 Years of Energy Cooperation” [1], the electricity generated from Khimti is evacuated by a 60 km long 132 kV double circuit transmission line to the Baneshwar substation near Kathmandu. In addition, several major 400 kV transmission lines connect Khimti to the East-West High Voltage Transmission Line and the Indian grid.

The “Electricity Crisis (Load Shedding) in Nepal” paper [2] states that after the commissioning of the Khimti plant in 2000, Nepal started exporting power to India through a new 400 kV double circuit transmission line. Further transmission infrastructure was later added to support increasing power imports and exports between Nepal and India.

Environmental Considerations

According to the environmental impact assessment report from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, the Khimti project took steps to protect the local environment and wildlife habitats (Kudos, 1999). While the hydropower project altered the river system, impact assessments ensured proper management of natural resources. The environmental monitoring program checked water quality, aquatic life, vegetation, erosion, and more. The project aimed to avoid disrupting animal corridors and minimize forest clearing. Compensatory reforestation programs helped protect vulnerable tree species like Shorea robusta and vital wildlife habitats.

According to Kudos (1999), “The Environmental Management Plan describes monitoring and mitigation programs for the aquatic environment, terrestrial habitats, soil conservation as well as disease vector and waste management control.” The report cites how fish ladders, minimum water flow allowances, and hatchery support maintained fish diversity. While some short-term impacts occurred during construction, long-term environmental protection initiatives aimed to sustain biodiversity and ecological balance.

Project Costs

The total project cost for the Khimti Hydropower Project was around US$140 million. The project was jointly financed by the Government of Nepal, which provided 15% equity financing, and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), which provided a loan for the remaining 85% of the costs. Norad provided interest-free credit of NOK 756 million (around $140 million at the time) to support the construction of the project.

The project was considered one of the largest hydropower investments in Nepal at the time. It represented a major infrastructure development aimed at increasing electricity access and promoting economic growth in Nepal. The interest-free loan and favorable financing from Norad enabled Nepal to develop a substantial hydropower resource that would have otherwise been difficult to finance domestically.

Overall, the financing scheme highlights the importance of international development assistance and partnerships in supporting major infrastructure projects in developing countries like Nepal. The Norwegian assistance played a pivotal role in making the Khimti project financially viable and getting it off the ground.

Conclusion

In summary, the Khimti Hydropower Project is a major hydroelectric project located in the Dolakha and Ramechhap districts of Nepal. It consists of two stages – Khimti I and Khimti II. The 60 MW Khimti I power plant began operations in 1995 and provides electricity to the national grid of Nepal. Khimti II, with an installed capacity of 48 MW, came online in 2000.

The Khimti project was a milestone in Nepal’s hydropower development, helping address the country’s electricity shortage. It was the first major hydropower project undertaken by the private sector in Nepal. The project had backing from the Norwegian government and was constructed by a Norwegian company. Khimti demonstrated that large hydropower projects are viable in Nepal with private investment.

Overall, the successful completion of the Khimti Hydropower Project helped spur the growth of Nepal’s hydropower sector. It serves as an important source of renewable electricity for the country. The project showcases the potential for harnessing Nepal’s immense hydropower resources.