The Relekhola Hydropower Project, based in Lekgaun of Narchyang in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, has officially started supplying electricity to Nepal’s national grid.
Developed by Him Consult Pvt. Ltd., the project completed internal testing before being connected through the Dana Substation—part of the Kali Gandaki Corridor transmission line. Project Chief Darshan Kafle shared that the plant has entered a 20-day trial phase. If everything runs smoothly during this period, it will move into full commercial operation.
Construction on the project began with a 13-kilometer access road in 2077 BS, followed by the start of major infrastructure work in 2079 BS. The plant uses a 510-meter water drop (head) and is situated in Hariswara. A 4.3-kilometer, 33 kV transmission line now connects the powerhouse directly to the Dana Substation.
The project cost Rs 1.35 billion, with 70% of the funding coming from loans provided by Himalayan Bank and Rastriya Banijya Bank.
Several companies played key roles in the construction: Sakura Power Construction led the civil works, Workshop Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. handled the hydro-mechanical parts, and India’s Flovel Energy Pvt. Ltd. was responsible for the electromechanical systems.
Relekhola joins other successful hydropower projects in the Narchyang area, including the 110 MW Nilgiri I and Nilgiri II Cascade, the 5 MW Ghalemde Khola, and the 42 MW Mistri Khola—all of which are already connected to the grid and contributing to Nepal’s growing clean energy supply.
