Upper Balephi Hydropower Project (UBHPP) is a 46 MW run-of-river project located in Jugal Rural Municipality of Sindhupalchowk district in Bagmati Province. Developed by Upper Balephi Hydropower Limited, the project utilizes a net head of 415.95 m and a design discharge of 12.70 m³/s at Q40% exceedance.
Project Area
All project components are located within Jugal Rural Municipality, between 27°58’59” to 28°01’11” N latitude and 85°46’46” to 85°48’03” E longitude. The nearest villages are Tembathan, Gumba, and Bolde, with Balephi Bazaar (72 km from Kathmandu via Araniko Highway) serving as the closest market hub. A 34 m Bailey bridge has been built over the Balephi Khola, with a 7 km access road under construction along its right bank to the headworks.
Hydrology
The catchment area of Balephi Khola at headworks extends over 298 km² with elevations from 1,562–6,881 m. Average flow at the intake is 22.72 m³/s, with a dependable flow of 12.70 m³/s. Floods are estimated at 857 m³/s (100-year return) for headworks and 690 m³/s at the tailrace. A minimum 10% environmental flow is allocated for downstream ecology.
Geology
The project area is located in the Higher Himalayan Crystalline Zone, dominated by gneiss, schist, quartzite, and migmatite. The 2.5 km headrace tunnel passes mainly through strong gneiss with localized weathered zones. The penstock alignment traverses steep gneiss cliffs, while the underground powerhouse cavern is designed perpendicular to foliation for stability.
Project Configuration
Water is diverted from Balephi Khola through an intake and gravel trap, conveyed via a 2,498 m headrace tunnel, a 7 m × 26.7 m surge shaft, and a 1,524 m penstock to the underground powerhouse.
Powerhouse will be equipped with 2 Pelton turbines (23 MW each) and 2 generators (27.06 MVA). A 315 m tailrace tunnel returns water to the Balephi Khola.
This project will have gas-insulated switchyard with two 11/132 kV, 30 MVA transformers, and an 11 km, 132 kV single-circuit transmission line connecting to Pantang substation of NEA.
Energy Generation
The project will generate about 274.16 GWh annually, including 85.73 GWh (31%) in dry season and 188.43 GWh in wet season.
Construction
Implemented under an EPC contract, the total construction period is estimated at 4 years.
Milestones
- Survey Licence – 2074 Mangsir
- EIA Approval – 2076 Kartik
- Grid Connection Agreement – 2076 Poush
- Construction Licence – 2078 Shrawan
- Power Purchase Agreement – 2080 Mangsir
- Credit Facility Agreement – 2081 Shrawan
- EPC Contract – 2081 Bhadra