Kathmandu: Continuous heavy rainfall over the past two days has caused widespread damage to 16 hydropower projects across Nepal due to landslides and floods. The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) reported that various powerhouses, transmission lines, and other infrastructures have been severely affected, with losses expected to rise as further assessments are made.
Among the most significant damage is at the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, where the dam site and sand-filtering pond have been destroyed. Four individuals, including two workers and security personnel, remain missing following a landslide at the project site. The 456-megawatt project has halted production, causing disruptions in the national power supply.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been grappling with the aftermath, as the disaster has affected power distribution across the country. The NEA reported that it was forced to suspend 980 megawatts of power supply per hour. Efforts are underway to resolve the distribution issues.
Several other projects, including the 22-megawatt Bagmati Small Hydropower Project, have experienced significant damage. The Bagmati project’s powerhouse is completely submerged. Additionally, the Lower Hewakhola and Hewakhola Hydropower Projects, which were already impacted by floods last year, have once again been severely damaged, halting production.
The Solu Dudhkoshi Hydropower Project (86 MW), Maikhola Cascade Hydropower Project (3 MW), and Pheme Khola Hydropower Project are among other major facilities affected. Flooding has damaged dams, access roads, and transmission lines, while heavy construction equipment at various sites, including containers, tippers, and excavators, have been washed away.
The NEA had to import an additional 300 megawatts of electricity from India on Saturday to compensate for the shortfall caused by the disruption in domestic power production.
The flooding and landslides have also affected major projects under construction, such as the Upper Trishuli-1 (216 MW), and several other projects face road access issues, further complicating reconstruction efforts. IPPAN and NEA continue to assess the damage, with recovery efforts expected to take time due to the widespread destruction across the affected regions.
