🔋 270 MW Bheri-1 Hydropower Project to be Built by Chinese Gezhouba Group in Jajarkot and Rukum West

Kathmandu – A major leap in Nepal’s hydropower development has been announced with the proposed construction of the 270-megawatt Bheri-1 Partially-Reservoir Hydropower Project on the Bheri River. The project will be developed by the Chinese state-owned Gezhouba Group Company Limited, one of the world's largest infrastructure developers.

The project is set to be constructed in Wards 10–13 of Nalgadh Municipality (Jajarkot district) and Wards 4–6 of Aathbiskot Municipality (Rukum West district), under a design that includes a partially reservoir-based system for storing water for six hours daily.

🏗️ Key Project Features

• 📍 Location: Bheri River, spanning Jajarkot and Rukum West

• ⚡ Installed Capacity: 270 MW

• 🧱 Dam Height: 38 meters

• 🕳️ Headrace Tunnel: 7 kilometers

• 🚧 Auxiliary Road Construction: 11 kilometers

• 🌉 Bailey Bridges: 3 bridges to be constructed across the river

• 🏭 Powerhouse Location: Jyamire, Athabiskot Rural Municipality (Rukum West)

• 💰 Estimated Cost: Rs 46 billion

• ⏳ Construction Timeline: 5 years

🌿 Environmental Review Underway

A meeting of the Environmental Opinion and Suggestion Committee, as provisioned by the Environment Protection Act, 2076, was held to discuss the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report of the proposed project.

Presiding over the meeting, Joint Secretary Dhirendra Kumar Pradhan of the Ministry of Forests and Environment emphasized the importance of executing the project in a way that minimizes biodiversity loss and safeguards the livelihoods of local and indigenous communities.

“While hydropower development is essential, the project must align with sustainable environmental and social standards,” said Pradhan.

📊 Key Environmental Points from the EIA

• 🌱 Land Required: 24.75 hectares

• 🌳 Trees to be Cut: 152

• 🌊 Reservoir Operation: 6-hour daily water storage

• 🧪 EIA Conducted By: National Resource and Environment Center (NRAC)

Dr. Jyoti Prasad Gajurel, Executive Director of NRAC, shared the findings of the EIA, noting the limited land use and relatively low deforestation required for the project’s implementation.

👥 Expert Committee Feedback

The meeting included feedback from a diverse panel of experts:

• 🧠 Physicist: Shivraj Adhikari

• 🧬 Biologist: Gopal Kumar Shrestha

• 🏘️ Socio-economic Expert: Rajan Rishi Kandel

• 🐟 Fisheries Expert: Santoshi Shrestha

• 🔍 Thematic experts from other concerned agencies

Deputy Secretary Ramesh Basnet, Member Secretary of the Committee, reminded that the EIA should not be treated as a formality but as a scientific and legal foundation for responsible hydropower development.

The Bheri-1 project, once completed, is expected to significantly contribute to Nepal’s energy security, grid stability, and long-term export potential—especially as the nation eyes regional energy trade with India and beyond.

📸 Images & Content Courtesy: 
📰 Source: UrjaSanchar.com