Kulekhani Reservoir
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 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 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 | |
  Location of Kulekhani Reservoir in Nepal | |
| Country | Nepal |
| Location | Kulekhani, Indrasarowar Rural Municipality, Makwanpur District, Bagmati Province |
| Coordinates | 27°35′25″N 85°9′21″E |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1977 |
| Opening date | 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 |
| Commission date | Kulekhani I: 1982 Kulekhani II: 1986 Kulekhani III: 2019 |
| 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 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
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
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
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]
Gallery
Group of fishermen with their boats by the Kulekhani reservoir.
Fishing nets and a lonely fisherman's station at Indrasarovar lake, Kulekhani.
Wall of Kulekhani dam
References
- 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.
- "Nepal u Appraisal of the Kulekhani Hydroelectric Project" (PDF). World Bank. 25 November 1975. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- "Kulekhani III begins power generation". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- "Kulekhani 3 deadline extended for fifth time". 11 October 2017.
- "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.
