Introduction | Track 1 | Track 2

Track 1 is focused on commercial development and implementation of small hydropower projects. Currently, LEDCO has completed the study of the 20 MW Nyadi Hydropower Project (NHP) and the 3.8 MW Khudi Hydropower project (KHP) which is under construction.

Nyadi Hydropower project

LEDCO's first activity under Track 1 is the Nyadi Hydropower Project (NHP). The NHP was first identified in 1993 as part of the Small Hydropower Master Plan, jointly funded by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and the German Development Agency (GTZ). In July 1997, the initial phase of the feasibility study known as the Desk Study was completed. LEDCO then intered into an agreement with E&Co, a USA based renewable energy investment company, for undertaking the feasibility study of the NHP. It was completed in March 2000. The construction license and the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) as well as mode of implementation are under consideration..

The NHP is a run-of-the-river scheme with the following salient features:

Installed capacity 20 MW
Design discharge 7 cub.m3/sec
Gross head 353 meters
Annual energy generation 127 GWh
Estimated construction period 5 years
Estimated total project cost in US$ 32 million

The NHP is located on the right bank of the Nyadi River, a tributary of the Marsyangdi River. The intake is located 7km upstream of the confluence of the Marsyangdi at the village of Naije. The powerhouse is located 3km downstream from Naije, at the village of Tarachowk. The entire project area is within the Bahundanda and the Bhulbule Village Development Committies (VDCs) in Lamjung district.

In June 1998, LEDCO created a new company - Nyadi Hydropower LImited (NHL), to build, own and operate the NHP. LEDCO and a limited number of partners will own NHL.

Khudi Hydropower Project
Project summary

1. Background
The Khudi Hydropower Project (KHP) was first identified as a possible project for hydropower development in a study conducted by Nepal Electricity Authority(NEA) and GTZ (of Germany) in 1993. The Lamjung Electricity Development Company (LEDCO) carried out the pre-feasibility study in 1999. The project was deemed feasible from that study. Gestion Conseil SCPH of Canada showed interest in developing the project together with LEDCO. Therefore additional studies and investigations have been carried out following the pre-feasibility study.

Khudi Hydro Power Site
SCP-LEDCO, MOU Signing

2. Project developers
Following the pre-feasibility study LEDCO and SCPHI have been jointly promoting the project. LEDCO is a broad-based hydropower development company with many of its shareholders having their roots in Lamjung. LEDCO has special interest in developing small and mini-hydropower projects. So far LEDCO has completed the study of Nyadi Khola, a 20MW Project. Likewise LEDCO has implemented the 183KW Syange Hydropower Project which is the first Project in Nepal to be built by the private sector with total local financing. SCP is a small hydropower developer in Canada owning and operating various hydropower plants. It has special expertise in designing and developing small hydropower projects.The combination of SCP and LEDCO for the development of the Khudi Project is very appropriate. SCP brings in the foreign experience and expertise whereas LEDCO can provide the local input which it has gained through the studies and development of other similar projects in Nepal. A Joint venture company consisting of BPC a major players in hydro power development of Nepal (60%), SCPHI (25%) and LEDCO (15%) has been formed to construct the Project which was commenced in February 2005.

MOU Signing between LEDCO and SCP
Khudi Hydropower Intake site

3. Technical summary
The KHP is a run of the river project to be built on the Khudi River. The Project falls within Ghanpokhara, Khudi and Simpani VDCs in Lamjung District. The Khudi is a perennial river having its leanest flow in April/May. which is expected to be approximately 2800 liters per second. Khudi Bazaar is approximately 6 km north of Besisahar, the district headquarters of Lamjung. The powerhouse of the KHP is approximately 1 km north of Khudi Bazaar. A dirt road exists as far as the proposed powerhouse of the project.

The project is designed to have an intake, intake canal, a settling basin, and a pressurized pipe of 2,800 m long to convey the water from the river to the powerhouse, that will house two units of generating equipment. The chosen electromechanical equipment is Turgo turbines connected to synchronous generators. The power generated at the Khudi power plant will be evacuated through the 33 kV lines to the national grid system.

Project construction will take approximately two years to complete.

The designed discharge for the project is 4m3/second and the net head is 111 meters. The installed capacity of the power plant will be 3.8 MW and the annual energy generated will be approximately 25,000,000 units. The plant load factor will be close to 72 %.

Salient features and preliminary drawings of the project are provided as Appendix 1.
4. Environmental summary

Since the KHP lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the existing laws of Nepal warrant a full-fledged EIA. LEDCO has engaged a very competent team of experts to carry out the EIA. It was carried out according to the Canadian standards in order to facilitate the Canadian partners to be involved in the project. The EIA has been approved by Canadian authorities as well as the  Ministry of Population and Environment of Nepal. The study has recommended several mitigation and enhancement measures that must be incorporated into project planning and implementation. Basically, the project will not have a great deal of negative impact on the project area, on the other hand it will have numerous benefits to the local people and the local economy.
 
Site Investigation

5. Financial summary
The project is expected to cost approximately Rs. 500,000,000|- including the interest during construction. The cost is based on budgetary quotations provided by contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers of various project components. The energy from the project will be supplied to NEA, at rates mentioned in the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed in June 2001.

LEDCO and SCP are investing 40% of equity and the majority (60%) is with BPC.The equity loan ratio is 30-70. Based on this the equity portion will be Rs. 150,000,000 and the loan component will be Rs. 350,000,000. Major portion of the equity will be in the form of redeemable preference shares, which will be redeemed as soon as the cash flow allows.

The present forecast is that the project will derive an Internal Rate of Return of 20 % (IRR on equity will be approximately 24 %).

6. Present status of the project (May 2005)
LEDCO and SCP have completed a significant amount of work for the development of the project, which is listed below.

May 2005
LEDCO
SALIENT FEATURES OF KHUDI HEP
Hydrology at intake

Catchment area
 127.3 km2
Average flow
 9.8 m3/s
Minimum monthly flow 2.8 m3/s
Design flood (100 year return period) 330 m3/s

Headworks

Weir length 25 m
Crest elevation 941m above msl
Diversion capacity 6 m3/s

Settling basin

Effective length 96 m
Overall width 11 m
Number of chambers 2

Waterways

pressurized pipe length 2800m
Diameter/Material/Thickness 1.7m,mild steel, 8-12mm

Tailrace channel

Length 55m
Cross-Section 3.18m2

Powerhouse

Type Surface
Powerhouse floor elevation 829.5 above msl
plinth area 195 m2

Turbine

Rated capacity 2 x1,900 kW
Running Speed 500rpm
Net head 111m
Design discharge 4m3/s

Generator

Type synchronous 3 Phase
Output 2 x 2.2 KVA
Power factor 0.85
Voltage 6.6KV
Excitation Brushless, rotating diodes

Transmission line

Voltage 11KV
Length 1 KM to khudi Bazar
Access Existing fair weather motorable road from Beshishar

Introduction | Track 1 | Track 2

For more information, please contact our ledco office in Kathmandu.
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