PanchKhapan Hydropower Pvt. Ltd has obtained the survey and study license of Lower HewaKhola-A Hydropower Project from the Department of Electricity Development (DoED), and then the Ministry of Water Resources of the Government of Nepal in 2015. After the completion of a detailed feasibility study, the company intends to implement this project. Lower HewaKhola-A Hydropower Project is located in the Sankhuwasabha District of Koshi Zone in the Eastern Region of Nepal. The project site is only about 10 km north-west from Chainpur Bazaar, located along the Koshi Highway.
The under-utilization of this vast resource has been due to various reasons including a lack of consistent policy mechanisms and project selection criteria, lack of basic infrastructure facilities, and lack of technical and financial strengths of the country. Still, traditional sources of energy such as fuel wood, agricultural residue, and animal waste are playing a major role (86%) in the total energy consumption of the country. Commercial energy sources like fossil fuel and electricity share the remaining portion of the energy consumption, of which electricity contributes about 1.2% of the total energy needs.
The Lower HewaKhola-A Hydropower Project, located in Sankhuwasabha District, aims to address Nepal's energy shortages. This medium-sized run-of-river (PROR) project has an installed capacity of 6.9 MW, utilizing two 3.45 MW horizontal axis Francis turbines and a net head of 192 meters. Key infrastructure includes stable head works, settling basins, and a 3.8 km single circuit 33 kV transmission line to connect to the Integrated Nepal Power System at Baneswor sub-station. The project leverages a reliable water source from the Himalayas, ensuring sustainable energy production.
Installed Capacity: 6 MW