Rs 390 billion estimated to cost to rebuild flood-ravaged energy sector

Kathmandu. Devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers on August 26 have damaged 783 MW hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot.

The report prepared by the joint technical team of the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) showed that 13 hydropower projects and five solar power projects with a capacity of 24 MW in Rasuwa and Nuwakot were damaged.

According to the report, the floods have caused the biggest damage to the energy and road sectors. It is estimated that Rs 390.62 billion will be required for the restoration and reconstruction of the energy and grid system alone.

The floods have damaged 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1, 111 MW Rasuwagadhi, 120 MW Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi, 20 MW Langtang Khola, 22 MW Chilime, 5 MW Mailung Khola, 24 MW Trishuli Hydropower Station, 14 MW 1 MW Devighat Hydropower Station, 60 MW Upper Trishuli-3A, 37 MW Upper Trishuli-3B and 15 MW. The 6 MW Middle Trishuli Ganga and other projects have been damaged.

Similarly, other solar projects, including the 25 MW Nuwakot Solar Power Project, have also been affected by the floods.

The report pointed out that the floods have damaged the power generation infrastructure, access road, transmission and other infrastructure of the project. A large amount of money will be required to reconstruct the damaged structures and restore the power system.

According to the report, 917 of the employees and workers working in the projects affected by the floods are still out of contact. A large number of workers and employees are still out of contact even after two weeks of the floods. The Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, experts and technicians from different countries and technicians and experts of the concerned companies are also working to search and rescue them.