Ikhuwa khola Hydropower project
Ikhuwa Khola Hydropower Project (IKHPP) is a run-of-river hydropower project with an installed capacity of 40 MW, located on the Ikhuwa Khola River, a tributary of the Arun River in the Makalu Barun Rural Municipality of Sankhuwasabha District in the Koshi Province of Nepal.
The project's feasibility study was conducted by the consultant CSPDR-Sinotech JV, concluding an optimum installed capacity of 40 MW. A national Consultant Chilime Engineering and Services Company Limited (ChesCo) entrusted with the responsibility of preparation of Detailed Project Report which includes both the technical studies and environmental and social studies for the project, has submitted the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
The project financing will be done by the Government of Nepal. The project is scheduled to complete within four years from the commencement date of the EPC Contract including testing and commissioning.
Access
The proposed powerhouse site is about 2.2 km from the nearest road head of Koshi highway which passes along the left bank of Arun River near Uwa Gaun. The access road consists of 2.03 km long road and one bridge of 80m length. The headworks site can be reached by constructing about 13km long project road along the right bank of Ikhuwa Khola from the powerhouse site.
SalientFeatures (DPR, 2024)
Type: ROR
Weir: Ogee
Catchment area: 128.5 km2
Head Race Tunnel: 3.504 km, 3.3m x 3.75 Inverted D
Power house: Underground (49.1 m*14.6 m*35.5)
Turbine: Pelton vertical axis
Design Discharge: 7.82 mm3/s
Net Head: 578.77 m
Installed Capacity: 40 MW
Annual Total Energy: 230.67 GWh
Dry Season Energy: 69.48 GWh
Wet Season Energy: 161.19 GWh
Power Evacuation
The power from IKHPP is planned to be evacuated to national grid by the construction of 2.6 km long 132 kV single circuit transmission line to the 400 kV substation located at Haitar, Sankhuwasabha.
Ongoing Project Activities
At present, the project is preparing for the construction of access road to powerhouse which includes one steel arch bridge across Arun River and 2.3km road. In addition to this, the project is carrying out additional geological and geotechnical investigation. Public hearing for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted. The Company has applied generation license for project construction. Project has also initiated the process for land acquisition for the construction.