The Project · Sankhuwasabha, Nepal
Isuwa Khola Hydropower Project
The Isuwa Khola Hydropower Project is a 97.2 MW Peaking Run-of-River (PRoR) scheme, set to deliver 674.30 GWh of clean, sustainable energy annually to the national grid.
- Installed Capacity
- 97.2 MW (3 × 34.1 MW)
- Gross / Net Head
- 940 m / 914 m
- Dry / Wet Energy
- 262.54 GWh / 411.76 GWh
- Catchment Area
- 152 km²
How It Works
From River to National Grid
Water is diverted at the raised weir, carried 6.9 km along the hillside, then dropped 940 metres through the penstock to spin three turbines before returning to the river.
Swipe to see the whole scheme
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1
Raised Weir & Intake
50 m × 37 m weir · crest at 2,005 m
Raises the river and diverts up to 12.6 m³/s through a side intake with two 2.5 m orifices. The pondage behind it stores water for peak-hour generation.
Latest updateConstruction69% -
2
Headrace Pipe
6,911.53 m · Ø 2.17–2.27 m
Carries water along the hillside at a gentle gradient, keeping it high until the drop to the powerhouse.
Latest updateConstruction65% -
3
Surge Tank
Circular · 19.5 m × 32 m
Absorbs pressure surges when the turbines start, stop or change load, protecting the pipe and penstock.
Latest updateConstruction60% -
4
Penstock
2,500 m · Ø 1.8 m steel
Drops the water steeply towards the powerhouse, building up the pressure that drives the turbines.
Latest updateConstruction49% -
5
Powerhouse
3 × 34.1 MW · 940 m gross head
A 115 m × 20 m surface powerhouse where three generating units convert the water’s energy into electricity.
Latest updateConstruction90% -
6
Tailrace
RCC culvert
Returns the water to the river below the powerhouse.
Latest updateConstruction100% -
7
Transmission Line
1 km · 132 kV double circuit
Connects the switchyard to the national grid.
Construction20%
Salient Features
Technical Specifications
Hydrology
- Catchment Area
- 152 km²
- Design Flow
- 12.60 m³/s
- Design 100-yr Flood
- 166.94 m³/s
- Design 200-yr Flood
- 184.77 m³/s
- Probability of Exceedance
- 58.71%
Headworks
- Weir Type
- Raised Weir
- Weir Size (L × H)
- 50m × 37m
- Weir Crest Elevation
- 2,005 m above MSL
- Weir Crest Length
- 70 m
- Intake
- Side Intake, 2 Orifices (2.5m × 2.5m each)
Waterways
- Headrace Pipe Length
- 6,911.53 m
- Headrace Pipe Diameter
- Ø 2.17–2.27 m
- Surge Tank
- Circular, 19.5m dia × 32m height
- Penstock Length
- 2,500 m
- Penstock Diameter / Thickness
- Ø 1.8m, 10–38mm
Powerhouse & Grid
- Powerhouse
- Surface type, 115m × 20m
- Gross / Net Head
- 940 m / 914 m
- Installed Capacity
- 97.2 MW (3 × 34.1 MW)
- Dry / Wet Energy
- 262.54 GWh / 411.76 GWh
- Tailrace Culvert
- RCC, 60m × 2.7m × 2.5m
- Transmission Line
- 1 km, 132 kV Double Circuit
At a Glance
Project Facts & Partners
Key Dates
- PPA Signing
- 12 October 2018
- Civil Contract Award
- 7 April 2019
- Generation License
- 15 May 2020
- RCOD (Proposed)
- 13 February 2027
Consultant & Contractors
- Consultant
- GERMDC Pvt. Ltd.
- Civil Contractor
- Build-Tech Construction Pvt. Ltd.
- Hydro-Mechanical Contractor
- Manakamana Nirman Sewa
- Electro-Mechanical Contractor
- CWTW, Chongqing, China
- Transmission Line Contractor
- Prakruthi Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Finance & Land
- Revised Project Cost
- NPR 13,390 Million
- Lenders
- Sanima (Lead), NIMB (Co-lead), Kumari, Muktinath Bikash, Laxmi Sunrise, Everest, Nepal SBI, EPF
- Land Acquired (to date)
- ~210 Ropani
Powering Nepal's Progress, Sustainably
Get in Touch With Us
We're here to answer any questions you may have about the Isuwa Khola Hydropower Project.