KATHMANDU, Oct 7: Landslides and floods triggered by incessant rainfall have affected 32 hydropower projects across 10 districts in three provinces.
According to preliminary data compiled by the Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN) as of Monday afternoon, 17 operational projects with a combined capacity of 180 megawatts and 15 under-construction projects with a combined capacity of 338 megawatts have been hit by floods.
In previous years, the lack of timely flood warnings or limited trust in the available information, often led to significant human casualties. This year, however, an agreement between IPPAN and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology enabled the exchange of early flood warnings, which helped prevent human losses, IPPAN President Ganesh Karki said.
Karki added that timely preparedness also minimized physical damage to hydropower projects compared to the scale of rainfall.
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Among the flood and landslide-affected areas, Ilam district in Koshi Province has experienced the heaviest impact, with the highest number of hydropower projects shut down. In Ilam alone, 15 operational projects have ceased production.
These include the 4.5 MW Mai Khola, 8 MW Mai Khola Cascade, 22 MW Mai Khola (Sanima Mai), 7 MW Mai Cascade, 7.8 MW Super Mai, 9.6 MW Super Mai A, 3 MW Super Mai A Cascade, 7.6 MW Jogmai Khola, 5.2 MW Jogmai Cascade, 6.2 MW Lower Jogmai, 9.5 MW Maibeni, 9.9 MW Upper Mai, 5.1 MW Mai C Cascade, 4.96 MW Puwakhola–2, and 3 MW Upper Puwakhola–1 hydropower projects.
Apart from these, two more projects have been affected: the 14.9 MW Hewakhola in Panchthar district of Koshi Province and the 52.4 MW Likhu–4 in Bagmati Province. Currently, all affected projects except Likhu–4 remain shut down. Likhu–4 only saw its production halted for just over an hour.
Damage to under-construction projects
Under-construction hydropower projects have also faced serious damage, particularly to access roads. The 49.95 MW Dana Khola project in Manang lost several sections of its 12-kilometer access road due to landslides, according to Mohan Kumar Dangi, operator of promoter company Lalupate Hydropower. As construction had only begun this year, the access road had not yet been fully established and heavy rains washed away large portions, he said.
In Ilam, the 10 MW Siddhikhola project, promoted by Siddi Hydropower, was scheduled to begin commercial production within 10 days. However, flood damage has delayed its production timeline. Similarly, in Panchthar, the 21.5 MW Sabha Khola B and 9.9 MW Hewakhola projects lost both construction materials and equipment to floods.
In Sindhupalchok, access roads to four hydropower projects were destroyed: the 36.51 MW Bramhayani, 15.15 MW Upper Bramhayani, 40 MW Balephi, and 22.5 MW Lower Balephi projects.
Elsewhere, the 20 MW Langtang Khola project in Rasuwa, the 15.5 MW Irkhuwa Khola B and 14.5 MW Upper Irkhuwa in Bhojpur, the 22.5 MW Upper Thulo Khola in Myagdi, the 6.82 MW Hidi Khola in Lamjung, the 48.8 MW Khimti–2 in Ramechhap, and the 4.5 MW Gasali Khola in Dhading also suffered damage to access roads and other structures, causing delays in electricity production.
IPPAN said detailed information on the extent of damage will take more time to emerge, as access roads to both operational and under-construction projects remain blocked.
