May 9: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is constructing eight high-capacity substations to improve the electricity transmission and distribution system in Kathmandu Valley. Substations of 400 KV, 200 KV and 132 KV capacities are under construction in the valley.

In order to address the potential electricity demand by 2050, the authority has set a deadline and advanced the process of construction of transmission and distribution infrastructure in major areas of the Kathmandu Valley in a phased manner.

By the year 2050, the highest demand for electricity in Kathmandu Valley is projected to reach 3,100 megawatts, and the authority has advanced the construction process of 20 more new substations. Land acquisition process for construction of the substations has been started. A survey is being conducted to construct a 220 KV ring around the outer perimeter of Kathmandu Valley with 220 KV transmission structure.

Substations are under construction at Lapsiphedi, Matatirtha, Chobhar, Futung, Teku, Mulpani and Thimi and Changunarayan in Bhaktapur. Teku and Changunarayan substations are in the final stages of construction. Both the substations will come into operation by next June.

Kulman Ghising, executive director of the authority, said that work is underway to complete the substation projects under construction as soon as possible to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the Kathmandu Valley. It is also aimed at making the supply reliable, he added.

Ghising, during an inspection visit to the Teku, Futung and Changunarayan substations, instructed the project management and construction workers to complete the construction of the substations within the stipulated time.

"During the winter of this year, the demand for electricity in Kathmandu Valley did not increase so much, due to which it became easier to manage the electricity supply. Considering the winter of next year, the construction of the substation should be completed before that," said Executive Director Ghising. After the construction of Teku and Futung substations is completed, the management of electricity demand and supply in Kathmandu will be much easier.

Teku-based 66/11 KV substation is being strengthened and a new 132/11 KV substation is being constructed at Futung. Two power transformers of 45/45 MVA capacity will be placed in both the substations.

In order to facilitate the electricity supply in the central part of Kathmandu, nine new feeders will be removed from Teku substation for local electricity supply.

To make the power supply of Kathmandu Valley reliable and to ensure its quality, projects such as construction of new substations, automation of existing substations, laying underground electric wires, adding and strengthening of new feeders and transformers are being implemented.

Improvement of transmission and distribution system is being done with the investment of Nepal government and the authority, concessional loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The process of acquiring 12 ropanis of land required for the construction of substation on the land of Himal Cement near the Chobhar Dry Port is progressing. A 132 KV transmission line has been built from Matatirtha to Chobhar.

A substation will be built in Chobhar and a 132 kV underground line will be constructed and taken to Lagankhel substation in Lalitpur through the ring road. Lagankhel substation is being strengthened and made 132 KV. Then in the coming days, the line will be taken underground from there to Chapagaon and Harsiddhi. In Lalitpur area, electricity is being supplied from Suchatar-Patan-Vaneshwar 66 KV line. This line is already 'overloaded'.

Construction of 400 and 220/132/11 KV substations in Lapsiphedi has not been started yet due to local obstruction. Lapsiphedi substation is being built to distribute the electricity produced by the hydroelectric projects built in the Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi river catchment areas in the Kathmandu valley. Locals are obstructing the construction of about 10 km transmission line from Lapsiphedi to Changunarayan substation.