GLOBALink | Chinese company helps Nepal's hydropower project achieve major progress in construction

KATHMANDU, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The concrete lining construction for the tailrace tunnel of the Tanahu hydropower project in central Nepal was completed on Wednesday, laying a solid foundation for subsequent construction.

The tailrace tunnel runs 210 meters, with an 8.44 percent design slope. A needle girder trolley was used in the construction and the entire section was lined at one time to be a circle with a diameter of 7.4 meters.

As an important part of the water diversion system, the tailrace system's concrete lining is the first milestone in the project and shall provide security during the rainy season that starts in June, said deputy project manager Huang Jiwen.

The Tanahu hydropower project located on the Seti River shall use a high-altitude dam to generate electricity with two generator units inside an underground powerhouse with a total capacity of 146.4 megawatts.

After the power station is put into operation, it will greatly help alleviate the power supply shortage in the western mountainous areas as well as in the city of Pokhara, a popular tourist destination in Nepal.

Section 2 of the project for water diversion and power generation systems and permanent engineering equipment was contracted by PowerChina Sinohydro Bureau 11 Co., Ltd. in October 2018. The construction started in January 2019 and is expected to be completed in October 2026.

More than 1,500 jobs have been created for locals so far, according to the Chinese company.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service