RASUWA, March 9: Works at the construction site of Upper Trishuli 3B Hydropower Project (37 MW) have been affected due to coronavirus outbreak in China.
According t project officials, Chinese workers of the project, who had returned China to celebrate New Year, have not returned after the outbreak in China. The outbreak has also affected import of machineries and construction materials for the project as both the trading points with China – Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi – remain shut.
The project has dug only 1,800 meters of the 3,805-meter main tunnel so far.
Though the project has already brought cement and steel, it has not been able to bring additional machineries to bore tunnel, and import turbines and generators.
Mohan Gautam, chief of the project, told Republica that he has advised the contractor to hire alternative workers if it is not possible for the China workers to return soon. "As the project works have been affected due to coronavirus outbreak, we have advised the contractor to look for alternative ways to hire workers and bring raw materials," he added.
The power generation deadline of the project located in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts is March, 2021.
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) are the main investors of the project, while Chinese company Sichuan ANHE Hydroelectric Engineering Company is building the project in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model. According to the project, nearly 45% of the work has already been completed.
According to the contract agreement, the contractor company should design and construct all structures, and install civil, electromechanical and hydromechanical equipment. The project is a cascade project of Upper Trishuli 3 A Hydropower Project (60 MW).
NEA and NTA each hold 30% shares in the project, while local units of Rasuwa and Nuwakot won a combined 5% of shares. Likewise, locals of Rasuwa and Nuwakot own 10% of shares, employees of NEA and NTA hold 5% of shares, while locals own 15% of shares.
Nepal Electricity Authority and Nepal Telecommunications Authority each have 30% shares in the company of the project. Five percent share of Rasuwa and Nuwakot Rural Municipality and Municipality, five percent share of financial institutions of Rasuwa and Nuwakot, 10% share of locals of Rasuwa and Nuwakot, 15% share of public and five percent share of employees of Nepal Telecommunications Authority. Financial institutions based in Nuwakot and Rasuwa are investing 5% of the project cost.