By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Mar. 10: Work on the 37 MW Upper Trishuli 3B Hydropower Project under construction in Rasuwa and Nuwakot as a part of the People's Hydropower Programme has gained momentum.
The overall physical construction progress of the Upper Trishuli 3B Hydropower Project, which had been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, has reached 58 per cent so far, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Work is in full swing with the aim of completing the construction of the project by September 2023.
The construction of the project, which was in full swing, was halted for about 15 months as Chinese workers, who had gone home in the second week of January 2020 to celebrate the New Year, could not return due to COVID-19 and equipment and materials could not be brought from China.

The construction of the project was resumed only from April 2021, but the work was again affected for about three weeks due to the second and third wave of COVID-19.
Also, construction was affected by the discovery of a much weaker rock than previously estimated in the main tunnel. Contractor Chinese company Shuifa ANHE Group Co. Ltd. is currently constructing main structures, including intake, main tunnel and power house.

Managing Director of Trishuli Hydropower Company Limited, the promoter of the project, Mohan Prasad Gautam said that 2865 metres of the main tunnel with a length of 3805 meters has been dug.
"Concreting of structures has started after completion of excavation of surface power house; work is being done with the aim of concreting the first phase by connecting electromechanical equipment and parts by next May," said Gautam.

"As the customs checkpoints with China have not been fully opened yet, the contractor company has not been able to transport the construction equipment and materials in the production and packaging stage to China and bring them to the construction site. We have received information that they will be released from the customs soon."

The contract agreement was signed with Shuifa ANHE Group Company on February 12, 2018 for the construction of the project in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model. The contractor company will design, construct, connect and operate all the civil, electromechanical and hydromechanical side structures and equipment of the project.

As the 60 MW Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project is a cascade project constructed by the Nepal Electricity Authority, the Upper Trishuli 3B will not have to build dams, sand thawing ponds and other structures. The gate required to send the water released from the Upper Trishuli 3A power house to the tunnel of the project has been connected.

The electricity generated will be transmitted to the national grid through the existing Samundartar Trishuli 3B transmission line.
Quick collection of remaining amount for shares The promoter of the project, Trishuli Hydropower Company Limited, will soon collect the remaining amount for the shares issued under the People's Hydropower Programme.

The company had issued 3.7 million shares to the public and collected only Rs. 10 per share with a minimum face value of Rs. 100.
As per the People's Hydropower Programme (Operation and Management) Procedure, 2075, there is a provision to demand payment only after paying 50 per cent of the remaining amount for physical progress of the project and all the amount agreed to be taken by the shareholders of the founding group of the company.

"As the provisions in the working procedure have been completed, the shareholders will be called soon to collect the remaining Rs. 90 per share and other shares in the general public group will also be expedited," said Gautam.

NEA and Nepal Telecom have 30/30 per cent founder shares in Trishuli Hydropower Company Limited, the promoter of the project.
The company will have 5 per cent share of Rasuwa and Nuwakot rural municipality and municipality, 5 per cent of Rasuwa and Nuwakot local financial institutions, 10 per cent of Rasuwa and Nuwakot residents, 15 per cent of public and 5 per cent of NEA and Telecom employees.
Estimated construction cost of the project is Rs. 7.44 billion.