Nepal: 220/132/33kV Dana Substation & 220/132kV Kushma Substation Project – Cable and Conductor Supply
Project Overview
Owner: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)
Project Name: Procurement of Plant for Dana-Kusma 220 kV Transmission Line & Substations
Financier: Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Key Deliverables
33kV HT Cable: 1C 400mm²
1.1kV Power Cables: 3.5C 185mm²
ACSR Cardinal Conductors
LV Power & Control Cables
Multi-Core Cables: 2.5/4/6mm²
Project Update
KATHMANDU, May 23: The construction of the 220 kV transmission line from Dana in Myagdi to Kusma in Parbat, part of the Kaligandaki Corridor project, is nearing completion. Officials have confirmed that the project is on track to be operational by July, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 lockdown.
The project, which includes the construction of a 220/132 kV substation at Khurkot, has seen significant progress with the installation of critical equipment. Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kulman Ghising stated that the Dana-Kusma section is expected to be operational by July. Once completed, the transmission line will integrate electricity generated from the 42 MW Mistri River Hydropower Project and the 11.2 MW Thapa Khola Hydropower Project into the national grid via the Dana substation. Currently, electricity from Thapa Khola is being transmitted through a 33 kV line.
Ghising acknowledged that the project, originally scheduled for completion in April, faced delays due to the lockdown. However, he emphasized that the team is working closely with local authorities, including chief district officers and local government heads, to ensure the project is operational by the revised deadline.
Of the 110 towers required for the 39-kilometer Dana-Kusma transmission line, only one tower remains to be installed. The installation was temporarily halted due to local opposition in Pokharibagar, Annapurna Rural Municipality, Myagdi. After successful negotiations with the community, work has resumed, and the final tower is now being installed.
Manoj Silwal, Chief of NEA’s Project Management Directorate, confirmed that the remaining work, including stringing the wires and commissioning the line, will be completed by July. Project Head Chandan Kumar Ghosh added that only 3 kilometers of wire remain to be placed in Myagdi and Parbat, though the lockdown has caused delays due to a shortage of manpower.
The Kaligandaki Corridor transmission line project is a critical initiative funded by the Government of Nepal, NEA, and a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank. It aims to evacuate electricity generated from hydropower projects in the Kaligandaki River basin, supporting Nepal’s goal of enhancing its national grid capacity and ensuring reliable power supply.
This project represents a significant milestone in Nepal’s efforts to strengthen its energy infrastructure and integrate renewable energy sources into the national grid.
