Concreting of the transformer hall has begun at the under-construction Arun-3 hydropower project in Nepal being developed by SJVN Ltd.
In a release, SJVN said that several construction activities started on the project during the visit of Nand Lal Sharma, CMD, SJVN to the project site of the upcoming 900-mw Arun-3 hydropower plant.
Activities launched during the CMD’s visit included concreting of transformer hall at the power house complex, construction of GIS building, welding works at Draft Tube #1, concreting of control room slab and right abutment of bridge on River Arun.
During the visit to all work fronts of the project, Sharma extensively reviewed the ongoing progress of dam, head race tunnel, surge shaft and power house complex. He conveyed his satisfaction on the progress of the project construction activities, the release said.
The CMD also chaired series of meetings with all construction agencies involved in four packages of the project. The top official also directed all agencies to work in tandem to complete the project ahead of the scheduled date of December 2023, without incurring time or cost overrun, the release added.
SJVN is developing three hydropower projects in the Arun River basin in Nepal – Arun-3 (900 mw), Lower Arun (669 mw) and Arun-4 (490 mw).
Background
The Arun-3 hydropower project is located on Arun River in Sankhuwasabha district of Eastern Nepal. The run-of-river scheme envisages about 70m high concrete gravity dam and head race tunnel (HRT) of 11.74 km with underground powerhouse containing four generating units of 225-mw each on left bank.
SJVN bagged the project through international competitive bidding. An MoU was signed between Government of Nepal and SJVN for the project in March, 2008 for execution on Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis for a period of 30 years including five years of construction period. The project development agreement (PDA) signed in November, 2014, which provides 21.9 per cent free power to Nepal for the entire concession period of 25 years.
Transmission line
As already reported by T&D India, land acquisition for the transmission line associated with the Arun-3 hydropower project is currently underway. (Read more)
