INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 30A mountainous village in Solukhumbu is set to generate electricity from a perennial river near
Mount Everest, following government approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the power project.
outburst flood sweeps climbers' village in Everest region
highest camp is littered with frozen garbage, and cleanup is likely to take years
According to Sonam Gyalzen Sherpa, National Assembly Member and Chairman of the Federalism and National
Concerns Committee, the Ministry of Forests and Environment approved the EIA study, allowing for the development of the Amadablam Mini Hydro
Project near the world's highest peak.
The Amadablam Mini Hydro Project will be built at an altitude above 4,400 meters
in the Everest region, making it the highest-altitude mini hydropower plant globally
The project team has worked tirelessly for over two years to obtain EIA approval from the ministry
Laxman Adhikari, Chairman of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-4, coordinated efforts on the ground and said they made numerous
attempts to convince local authorities, UNESCO, and various ministries about the urgent need for power projects in protected national park
areas.According to Adhikari, the project will be implemented in Pangboche, with an elevation range within the project area of 3,951.18
The Amadablam Mini Hydro Project is a run-of-river scheme that uses water from Cholunche Khola, a perennial river and tributary of Imja
Water will be diverted at an elevation of 4,423 meters, with intake made at 4,422 meters
The project plans to generate electrical power using two units of turbines with a rated output of 485 kW and couple them with two 650 kVA
synchronous generators.
The generated electricity will be transmitted through 11kV transmission lines and distributed through 1.1kV
distribution lines to 451 households across 19 settlements, including Chukung, Debuche, Dingboche, Dole, Mongla, Fungi Thana, Lobuche
Pangboche, Pheriche, Phortse, Thukla, and Tengboche
The total project cost is approximately 630 million rupees, with nearly 60% of funding secured as a loan from the World Bank
The project has also received a government subsidy of 20.73% through the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, Adhikari shared.Adhikari
stated that this is the first-ever project carried out within the Sagarmatha National Park/World's Heritage Site by following all due
procedures, and the contractor has already been appointed for the project with headwork structures being made
A total of 72,500 man-days of human resources will be employed during construction, and at least five people will be employed for power
generation once completed
The construction is expected to take 18 months, completing by early 2026, with the land acquisition process starting as soon as possible, as
per Adhikari.
The Amadablam Mini Hydro Project intends to acquire approximately 5.719 hectares of Sagarmatha National Park and 5.085
hectares outside the national park during its implementation
SNP's Buffer Zone CommitteeChairman Chhiring Penzo Sherpa termed the Amadablam mini hydro as Khumbu's pride project and the highest-altitude
mini hydro project in the world
An environmental audit of the project will begin two years after the commencement of completion, with environmental monitoring plans
prepared proposing mitigation measures for each identified adverse impact, Sherpa said.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com
