Powering Progress with Clean Energy
Isuwa Khola Hydropower Project
Makalu Rural Municipality, Sankhuwasabha · Koshi Province
Harnessing Himalayan Rivers for Nepal's Energy Future
Himalayan Rivers — Nepal's Power
Energy from the Heart of the Himalayas
- Installed Capacity
- 97.2MW
- Annual Energy Output
- 674.3GWh
- Overall Project Progress
- 71%
- RCOD (Proposed)
- 13 February 2027
Application to the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) In progress
Investor RelationsK.B.N.R Isuwa Power Limited is developing the Isuwa Khola Hydropower Project in Makalu Rural Municipality, Sankhuwasabha. Water from the Isuwa Khola, a tributary of the Arun, falls 940 metres from our raised weir to a three-unit powerhouse, generating 674.30 GWh of clean electricity every year for Nepal's national grid.
- Clean, renewable energy
- Peak-hour power for the national grid
- Growing with local communities
Kalyan Bikram NeopaneManaging Director, KBNR
Our People
The Team Behind Isuwa Khola
Led by the KBNR board, with engineers and finance and procurement specialists delivering the project from Kathmandu to the site in Sankhuwasabha.
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Mr. Birendra Bahadur Neopane
Chairman
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Mr. Kalyan Bikram Neopane
Managing Director
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Mrs. Ruma Rajbhandari
Director
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Mr. Ananta Karki
Chief Executive Officer
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Mr. Sudhir LamichhaneCFO
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Mr. Bed Prakash BistaAdmin & Finance Manager
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Mr. Prasun TumbahangpheExecutive Engineer
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Mr. Dipak ThapaChief Engineer
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Mr. Nibesh Thapa MagarProcurement Manager
From the Site
Construction in the High Himalaya
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Headrace pipe along the hillside
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Completed tailrace
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Raised weir under construction
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Powerhouse and site camp
Why Isuwa Khola
A Long-Life National Asset
Hydropower plants run for many decades on a free, renewable resource. Isuwa Khola will add 97.2 MW of peaking capacity to Nepal's grid, strengthening the country's energy security.
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Peaking Power
Six hours of pondage storage lets the plant generate when demand on the national grid is highest.
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940 m of Head
An exceptionally high head lets a 12.6 m³/s design flow drive three 34.1 MW turbine units.
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Clean Energy
674.30 GWh of renewable electricity a year, with no fuel burned to produce it.
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Local Development
Roads, river protection, drinking water and community support in Makalu Rural Municipality.
- 940m
- Gross Head
- 6.9km
- Headrace Pipe
- 50,000+
- Tons of CO₂ Avoided Annually
- 1,000+
- Local Jobs Created
Construction Progress
Where Construction Stands
Overall Project ProgressAs of June 2026
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Overall Civil Works74%
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Hydro-Mechanical Works65%
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Access Road100%
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Electro-Mechanical Works65%
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Transmission Line Works20%
Site Updates
Structure by Structure
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01Headworks
The project continues to progress steadily across all major components at the headworks. Elevation gains at the raised weir, completion of foundational elements at the undersluice, and ongoing earthworks in the pondage area point to a positive trend toward key milestones. Current efforts are focused on increasing structure heights, backfilling, and implementing the proposed structural works at the pondage slope.
Read update -
0269% completeRaised Weir and Intake
During the reporting period, significant progress was recorded at the raised weir, which now stands at an elevation of 1,997 meters — an advancement of 29 meters from the base. Work continues steadily alongside the undersluice and pondage area, keeping the intake structure aligned with the project's construction milestones.
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03Undersluice
Concreting of the raft at the undersluice is complete. Vertical and radial gate embedments are installed, and both the left and right walls — 4 meters and 3 meters respectively from the bucket portion — are finished. The wall has been raised to the foundation level of the intake, and the intake's raft foundation is also complete.
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04Pondage Area
Slope cutting and heavy excavation are ongoing along the right bank upstream of the raised weir, spanning approximately 250 meters in length at a slope of 2:1, as the pondage structure is prepared for the project's peaking operation.
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0565% complete
Headrace Pipe
The headrace pipe alignment is accessible via a motorable road, supporting transport and construction activity. Excavation at crossing points is underway and blasting is complete. A total of 43 anchor blocks are finished, jacketing is progressing on most support piers, and 4,600 meters of pipe have been laid along the alignment to date. Four major siphon and bridge crossings are identified, with abutment construction in progress.
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0660% completeSurge Tank
Concreting up to 6 meters from the crank level (EL. 1990.6) is complete, with backfilling around the surge tank also finished. Further concreting is temporarily on hold, with plans to use scaffolding relocated from the powerhouse.
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0749% completePenstock Pipe
Excavation from Anchor Block 17 to 18 through the concrete casing area upstream of the powerhouse is complete, with a saddle pad installed to support the pipe. Erection of 450 meters of penstock pipe and concrete casing of 220 meters are finished, with bioengineering planned to stabilize soil on the inclined section.
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0890% completePowerhouse
Civil works at the powerhouse are complete up to the corbel beam level, with rebar finished and formwork placed for concreting. Machine floor concreting is partially held back to allow the electromechanical contractor to install embedded parts for the turbine and generator. The cooling chamber is complete and the oil tank slab is underway.
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Get in Touch With Us
We're here to answer any questions you may have about the Isuwa Khola Hydropower Project. Feel free to reach out through the contact form below or use our direct contact information.
- Phone Number+977-1-4562844
- Email Addressinfo.kbnrisuwa@gmail.com
- Address LocationKalopul-7, Kathmandu, Nepal