Kulekhani Reservoir

The Kulekhani Dam is a rock-fill dam on the Kulekhani River near Kulekhani in Makwanpur District of Narayani Zone, 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 is delayed due to issues with the builder. The project has not been completed until the year 2017 and is expected to generate electricity by the end of 2018. 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
CountryNepal
LocationKulekhani, Makwanpur District, Narayani Zone
Coordinates27°35′25″N 85°9′21″E
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began1977
Opening date1982 (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
Commission dateKulekhani I: 1982
Kulekhani II: 1986
Kulekhani III: 2019 Jan(est.)
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: 92 MW
Annual generationKulekhani 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 has been underway since 2008 and has yet not been completed. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has extended the completion deadline of the Kulekhani 3 Hydropower Project for the fifth time to January 2018 as construction has been running late due to its slowpoke contractor.[3] The project’s civil contractor Sino Hydro has completed 98 percent of the construction, but there has been little progress in the installation of the turbine, water gate and transmission lines to evacuate the electricity generated by the plant. [4] It will use the tailwaters of Kulekhani II and have an installed capacity of 14 MW.[5]

References

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