Dolakha, May 24
Development of 456 megawatt Upper
Tamakoshi Hydroelectricity Project is moving ahead without intervention despite
coronavirus pandemic. It recently completed the installation of 373-metre long
vertical shaft which considered highly complex yet important work in the
construction of the largest hydroelectricity project to be completed so far.
Austrian company Andritz has
successfully completed the fitting last 1.5-metre long penstock pipe in the
vertical shaft on Saturday morning, said Dr. Ganesh Neupane, Spokesperson of
the project.
He said that in the lower vertical shaft
73 pieces 5-metre long and a 1.5-metre long pipe were installed. The completion
of the installation of the vertical shaft has drawn the commencement date of
energy generation nearer.
Similarly, Railway Engineering of Indian
contractor company Texma has completed the installation of 246-metre penstock
pipe in 310-metre long vertical shaft. Dr. Neupane said that that remaining 64-metre
work will be finished by the third week of July.
As the most complex phase of work at the
project was delayed, the energy generation date was postponed multiple times.
The first penstock pipe was installed in
the upper vertical shaft in July last year. The 5-metre long 27 tons heavy
penstock pipe are being lowered in the shaft with the help of Gantry crane.
As most of the workers and technicians
working at the site are Chinese, Italian, Indian and Nepal and have been
working before the coronavirus outbreak in the country, there is no risk of
infection and the work is going without interruption.
However, Dr. Neupane said that all
possible safety and cautions had been applied to save the workers from the
infection. Currently, more than 400 workers and staff are working at the
project. Civil works are performed by Chinese Sino Hydro, electromechanical
work is being done by Andritz, hydromechanical by Railway Engineering and
substation and transmission lines by Indian company KEC.
Upper Tamakoshi had successfully
performed the test of dam and head works.
About 99.5 per cent work in the project
is completed. Concrete lining in the tunnel is about to finishing and chemical
grouting is underway at some locations.
The picking run of the river project was
started about a decade ago and its earlier estimated budget of Rs. 49 billion
has reached Rs. 72 billion with interest.
Delay in the work by the contractor
company, earthquake, Indian blockade, rising price of US dollar, increasing
price of construction materials, administrative costs and interest of loan have
caused the cost overrun of the project.
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