The Kulekhani Dam is a rock-fill dam on the Kulekhani River near Kulekhani in the Indrasarowar Rural Municipality of Makwanpur District in Bagmati Province, Nepal. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports the 60 MW Kulekhani I, 32 MW Kulekhani II and 14 MW Kulekhani III 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 was delayed due to issues with the builder. 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]

Kulekhani Reservoir
The reservoir, Indra Sarobar
Kulekhani dam also known as "Indra sarobar", Makwanpur, Nepal
Kulekhani Reservoir is located in Nepal
Kulekhani Reservoir
Location of Kulekhani Reservoir in Nepal
CountryNepal
LocationKulekhani, Indrasarowar Rural Municipality, Makwanpur District, Bagmati Province
Coordinates27°35′25″N 85°9′21″E / 27.59028°N 85.15583°E / 27.59028; 85.15583
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began1977
Opening date1982; 42 years ago (1982)
Construction costUS$117.84 million
Owner(s)Nepal Electricity Authority
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment, rock-fill
ImpoundsKulekhani River
Height114 m (374 ft)
Length397 m (1,302 ft)
Elevation at crest1,534 m (5,033 ft)
Width (crest)10 m (33 ft)
Dam volume4,400,000 m3 (5,800,000 cu yd)
Reservoir
CreatesKulekhani Reservoir (Indra Sarobar)
Total capacity85,300,000 m3 (69,200 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity73,300,000 m3 (59,400 acre⋅ft)
Inactive capacity12,000,000 m3 (9,700 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area126 km2 (49 sq mi)
Surface area2.2 km2 (0.85 sq mi)
Maximum length7 km (4.3 mi)
Normal elevation1,530 m (5,020 ft)
Kulekhani-I Hydropower Station
Coordinates27°32′24.81″N 85°6′48.82″E / 27.5402250°N 85.1135611°E / 27.5402250; 85.1135611
Commission dateKulekhani I: 1982
Kulekhani II: 1986
Kulekhani III: 2019
TypeConventional, diversion
Hydraulic headKulekhani I: 550 m (1,800 ft)
Kulekhani II: 284.1 m (932 ft)
Kulekhani III: 102.56 m (336.5 ft)
TurbinesKulekhani I: 2 x 30 MW Pelton-type
Kulekhani II: 2 x 16 MW Francis-type
Kulekhani III: 2 x 7 MW Francis-type
Installed capacityKulekhani I: 60 MW
Kulekhani II: 32 MW
Kulekhani III: 14 MW (est.)
Total: 106 MW
Annual generationKulekhani I: 211 GWh
Kulekhani II: 104.6 GWh
Kulekhani III: 40.85 GWh (commissioned in 2019)
Map

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.

Kulekhani I hydropower station

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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).

Kulekhani II hydropower station

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Water discharged from the Kulekhani I power station 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]

Kulekhani III hydropower station

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Construction of the Kulekhani III Hydropower Station had been underway since 2008 and is now finally complete as of 2019.[3] The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) had extended the completion deadline of the Kulekhani 3 Hydropower Project for the fifth time to January 2018 as construction was running late due to its slowpoke contractor.[4] The project’s civil contractor Sino Hydro has completed 100 percent of the construction, and there has been full progress in the installation of the turbine, water gate and transmission lines to evacuate the electricity generated by the plant. It will use the tailwaters of Kulekhani II and have an installed capacity of 14 MW.[5]

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References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ "Kulekhani III begins power generation". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  4. ^ "Kulekhani 3 deadline extended for fifth time". 11 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project : Construction Supervision and Construction Management (14 MW)". Total Management Services Pvt. Ltd. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.