Kathmandu - Investment has been secured for the 24.8 MW Bajramadi Hydropower Project, which is being constructed on the Madi River in Madi Rural Municipality, Kaski district. The project is being developed by Bajramadi Energy Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

On Baisakh 26, an investment management agreement was signed between two banks:

• NMB Bank will serve as the lead financier, committing Rs 2.5 billion

• Krishi Bikas Bank will contribute Rs 1.245 billion as a partner bank

💰 Project Financing Structure

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 5.35 billion.

• Rs 3.745 billion (70%) will be funded through bank loans

• Rs 1.6 billion (30%) will come from equity investment and share issuance

⚡ Capacity Upgrade to 31 MW

Originally licensed for 24.8 MW, the project has now undergone a technical reassessment, leading to an upgrade to 31 MW. According to Chairman Jagal Bahadur Pokharel, the process to secure the revised license from the Department of Electricity Development is in its final phase.

With the increased capacity, the total investment required has now been revised to approximately Rs 6.35 billion.

Situated approximately 20 kilometers from Pokhara, the Vajramadi Hydropower Project benefits from strong road connectivity between its headworks and powerhouse. Once operational, the plant is projected to generate 147.123 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity per year based on its current 24.8 MW capacity. If upgraded to 31 MW, the annual energy output is expected to reach 183.11 GWh.

🌊 Project Design and Infrastructure

The project has a catchment area of 393.65 square kilometers, with a design discharge of 24.55 cusecs as per its 24.8 MW license. Key structures include:

• A 43-meter-long weir (dam) built on the Madi River near Haryoswara, Ward No. 4 of Madi Rural Municipality

• A 100-meter-long desander

• A 4,593-meter tunnel, featuring:

  • 3,603.6 meters of concrete-lined tunnel

  • 4,204.2 meters of short-cut lining

• A 324-meter penstock pipe

• Gross head of 125.5 meters

• A powerhouse equipped with two vertical-axis Francis turbines

If the capacity is upgraded to 31 MW, the tunnel will be extended to 5.35 kilometers, and the gross head will increase to 156 meters.

⚡ Grid Connection and PPA Details

Electricity from the project will be evacuated via a 7.2 km, 132 kV single-circuit transmission line from the project's switchyard to the Lekhnath substation, linking it to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) national grid.

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between the developer and NEA was signed on 28 Magh 2080 B.S.

• The construction period is scheduled for 42 months

• Commercial operation is targeted to begin on 10 Kartik 2085 B.S.

🔧 Consulting and Oversight

The project has appointed Clean Energy Consultant (CEC) as the technical advisor for the development phase.

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