Geppert Wins Electromechanical Contract for 9.5 MW Luja Khola Cascade Project

Kathmandu; Geppert Hydro India has been awarded the contract for the supply and installation of electromechanical equipment for the 9.5 MW Luja Khola Cascade Hydropower Project, promoted by Silk Power Pvt. Ltd. The cascade project is being developed by utilizing the tailwater from the under-construction 24.88 MW Luja Khola Hydropower Project, situated along the border of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality and Solu Dudhkunda Municipality in Solukhumbu district.

The contract, according to Kumar Kharel, Chairman of the promoting company, includes design, manufacturing, supply and installation of all electromechanical components by Geppert.

“We were impressed by Geppert’s excellent work on the 8.5 MW Deumai Khola Hydropower Project in Ilam, which we initiated previously. Hence, we decided to entrust Geppert with the electromechanical work for the Luja Cascade Project as well, ” Kharel told Urja Khabar, “As per the agreement, Geppert must complete the installation work within one year, and we are confident they will deliver quality results on time.” He said the contract was signed about two week ago in Noida, India.

According to Raj Kishor Yadav, Country Director of Geppert Hydro for Nepal, the company has already taken contracts for various works in 18 hydropower projects in Nepal, including the under-construction 100 MW Super Trishuli Project. Out of these, 9 projects have already been completed and are in operation. In India, Geppert has worked in 5 projects—2 already operational and 3 under construction.

Having experience in the manufacturing, supply, and installation of hydropower equipment for over 128 years, Geppert has been operating in more than 40 countries worldwide. Yadav assured that the company would accomplish the Luja Khola Cascade on time with the same quality standard.

Chairman Kharel said that the construction of the Luja Khola Cascade will start within two months and that the project would be completed on time. The project has a gross head of 900 meters and is glacier-fed; therefore, it produces good energy even during the winter season. The cascade project is estimated to produce 62 GWh of electricity annually.

The generated power will be evacuated through a 33 kV transmission line, which will connect to the substation of the 24.88 MW Luja Khola Project via a loop-in loop-out system.

The estimated total project cost is NPR 1.33 billion at the rate of NPR 140 million per MW.

24.88 MW Luja Khola Project Aims for Power Generation by Jestha (May–June)

Silk Power Pvt. Ltd. is also constructing the 24.88 MW Luja Khola Hydropower Project upstream of the cascade project, aiming to begin power generation by Jestha (May–June) next year.

Chairman Kharel stated that the main tunnel, penstock pipe, and powerhouse construction work is advancing rapidly.

“We are moving ahead at full pace to complete all works by Baishakh and begin commercial generation by Jestha,” he said.

The project’s main physical structures are being built at Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality–2. The dam site lies at an elevation of 3,203 meters above sea level. From the dam, water will be conveyed through a 2.4 km headrace tunnel and a 1.64 km penstock pipe to the powerhouse, which is being constructed at ground level. The powerhouse will have three generating units of 8.7 MW each, with a total generation capacity of 167.310 GWh annually. The generated electricity will be transmitted through the 132 kV transmission line, which is 35 km long, to connect with the Tingla Substation of NEA.