Raghuganga (Myagdi) – The 48.5 MW Upper Rahughat Hydropower Project, located in Raghuganga Rural Municipality, has officially commenced trial electricity generation following the completion of all major construction and technical works.

The project, promoted by Tundi Power Pvt. Ltd, has now entered its final phase before commercial operation. According to Resident Engineer Prakash Timilsina, the trial production began after successful internal testing of all installed equipment and physical infrastructure, including the dam, tunnel, powerhouse, transmission line, switchyard, and control systems.

“All internal tests have been completed without any issues. Electricity generation has started successfully, and we are preparing to commence commercial production within the next 15 days,” said Timilsina.

Project Overview

• Location: Dam at Chimkhola, Raghuganga-7; Powerhouse at the base of Dagnam, Raghuganga-4

• Tunnel length: 4,900 meters

• Penstock pipeline: 680 meters from tunnel outlet to powerhouse

• Construction start: 2077 BS

• Estimated cost (combined with Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangale): Rs 13 billion

Contractors Involved

• Civil Works: Ramechhap Sherpa Construction

• Tunnel Construction: South Asian Infrastructure

• Electromechanical Contractor: Everest Hydro

• Hydromechanical Contractor: Machhapuchhre Metal and Machinery

Integrated Power Generation Model

The Upper Rahughat project utilizes water from both the Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat Hydropower Plant and the Bagarkhola River. It is part of a broader, integrated network of hydropower projects developed by the company in the region:

• 37.5 MW Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangale Project – Started commercial generation in Ashar

• 21.3 MW Thulokhola Project (by Samyukta Urja Limited) – Began commercial operation in Bhadra

The combined output from these plants is currently connected to the national grid via a switchyard in Tilkenichour, Raghuganga-3.

Transmission Infrastructure Development

To support power evacuation and grid connectivity, multiple transmission lines have been constructed in partnership between the regional hydropower developers:

• 132 kV, 8 km transmission line from Bandi to Chimkhola: jointly built by the Thulokhola and 22.5 MW Upper Thulokhola projects.

• 220 kV transmission line from Chimkhola to Tilkeni: developed collaboratively by Thulokhola, Upper Thulokhola, Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangale, and Upper Rahughat projects.

With the successful trial run of the Upper Rahughat Hydropower Project, Nepal’s western energy corridor continues to grow, reinforcing the country’s ambition to become a regional energy hub. The strategic integration of multiple hydropower plants and joint infrastructure efforts also highlights a cooperative model of private sector-led energy development.

IMAGE SOURCE : Urjasanchar

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