Kulekhani Dam

Kulekhani Dam
The reservoir, Indra Sarobar
Kulekhani dam also known as "Indra sarobar", Makwanpur, Nepal
Location of Kulekhani Dam in Nepal
Country Nepal
Location Kulekhani, Makwanpur District, Narayani Zone
Coordinates 27°35′27.08″N 85°9′20.85″E / 27.5908556°N 85.1557917°E / 27.5908556; 85.1557917Coordinates: 27°35′27.08″N 85°9′20.85″E / 27.5908556°N 85.1557917°E / 27.5908556; 85.1557917
Purpose Power
Status Operational
Construction began 1977
Opening date 1982 (1982)
Construction cost US$117.84 million
Owner(s) Nepal Electricity Authority
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment, rock-fill
Impounds Kulekhani River
Height 114 m (374 ft)
Length 397 m (1,302 ft)
Elevation at crest 1,534 m (5,033 ft)
Width (crest) 10 m (33 ft)
Dam volume 4,400,000 m3 (5,800,000 cu yd)
Reservoir
Creates Kulekhani Reservoir (Indra Sarobar)
Total capacity 85,300,000 m3 (69,200 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity 73,300,000 m3 (59,400 acre⋅ft)
Inactive capacity 12,000,000 m3 (9,700 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area 126 km2 (49 sq mi)
Surface area 2.2 km2 (0.85 sq mi)
Maximum length 7 km (4.3 mi)
Normal elevation 1,530 m (5,020 ft)
Kulekhani-I Hydropower Station
Coordinates 27°32′24.81″N 85°6′48.82″E / 27.5402250°N 85.1135611°E / 27.5402250; 85.1135611
Commission date Kulekhani I: 1982
Kulekhani II: 1986
Kulekhani III: 2019 Jan(est.)
Type Conventional, diversion
Hydraulic head Kulekhani I: 550 m (1,800 ft)
Kulekhani II: 284.1 m (932 ft)
Kulekhani III: 102.56 m (336.5 ft)
Turbines Kulekhani I: 2 x 30 MW Pelton-type
Kulekhani II: 2 x 16 MW Francis-type
Kulekhani III: 2 x 7 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity Kulekhani I: 60 MW
Kulekhani II: 32 MW
Kulekhani III: 14 MW (est.)
Total: 92 MW
Annual generation Kulekhani I: 211 GWh
Kulekhani II: 104.6 GWh
Kulekhani III: 40.85 GWh(not commissioned)

The Kulekhani Dam is a rock-fill dam on the Kulekhani River near Kulekhani in Makwanpur District of Narayani Zone, Nepal. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports the 60 MW Kulekhani I and 32 MW Kulekhani II Hydropower Stations. Construction began in 1977 and Kulekhani I was commissioned in 1982. Kulekhani II was commissioned in 1986 and a third power station, the 14 MW Kulekhani III was expected to be commissioned in May 2015 but is delayed to issues with the builder.The project has not been completed till the year 2017 and is expected to generate electricity by the end of 2018. The US$117.84 million project received funding from the World Bank, Kuwait Fund, UNDP, Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund and OPEC Fund. It is owned by Nepal Electricity Authority.[1][2]

The 114 m (374 ft) tall dam creates a reservoir called Indra Sarobar which stores 85,300,000 m3 (69,200 acre⋅ft) of water. From the reservoir, water is sent to the Kulekhani I Hydropower Station via a 5.8 km (3.6 mi) headrace tunnel to a gate house which controls the flow of water to the power station. From the gate house water travels down a 1,340 m (4,400 ft) long penstock where it reaches the underground power station. It contains two 30 MW Pelton turbine-generators. The difference in elevation between the reservoir and the power station affords a net hydraulic head of 550 m (1,800 ft). Water discharged from the power station then enters a series of tunnels and diversions where it reaches the Kulekhani II Hydropower Station which is also located underground and contains two 16 MW Francis turbine-generators. The elevation difference between the reservoir and the power station affords a net hydraulic head of 284.1 m (932 ft). The dam and reservoir are in the Bagmati River basin while the power stations are in the Rapti River basin.[1]

Construction of the Kulekhani III Hydropower Station has been underway since 2008 and has yet not been completed. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has extended the completion deadline of the Kulekhani 3 Hydropower Project for the fifth time to January 2018 as construction has been running late due to its slowpoke contractor.[3] The project’s civil contractor Sino Hydro has completed 98 percent of the construction, but there has been little progress in the installation of the turbine, water gate and transmission lines to evacuate the electricity generated by the plant. [4] It will use the tailwaters of Kulekhani II and have an installed capacity of 14 MW.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Dhakal, Manjeet (2011). "Climate Change Impacts on Reservoir based Hydropower Generation in Nepal: A case study of Kulekhani Hydropower Plant" (PDF). School of Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Pokhara University. pp. 15–17. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Nepal u Appraisal of the Kulekhani Hydroelectric Project" (PDF). World Bank. 25 November 1975. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  3. ↑ http://www.nepalenergyforum.com/kulekhani-3-deadline-extended-for-fifth-time/
  4. ↑ http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-08-01/kulekhani-3-hydel-misses-deadline.html
  5. ↑ "Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project : Construction Supervision and Construction Management (14 MW)". Total Management Services Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
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