MYAGDI:  A 220 kV switchyard has come into operation at Tilkenichaur of Raghuganga rural municipality -3 in Myagdi.

The switchyard is designed to receive electricity generated in the powerhouse through generators and transmit to the transmission line.

The facility has been developed under Raghuganga Hydropower, an auxiliary company of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

With the facility now in operation, a total of 127.8 MW of electricity generated from four projects based in Rahughat corridor has been successfully connected to the national transmission grid.

According to Rahughat Hydroelectricity Project Chief Raj Bahadur Bista, a successful trial operation of the switchyard was carried before connecting the electricity to the national grid on Monday. The switchyard has been constructed under the under-construction 40-MW Rahughat project.

Rabin Kattel, Chief of the Civil Division of the Rahughat Hydropower Project, shared that a switchyard based on AIS (Air-insulated switchyard) technology has been constructed.

AIS is a type of switchgear where air is used as the primary insulation medium to separate electrical components within the system. This method is preferred for simplicity, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

The Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), an Indian company which is the Project’s hydro mechanical contractor, built the switchyard.

So far, four transmission-line towers have already been constructed, added Kattel.

At present, electricity generated by the 35.5mw Chimkhola-Mangale-Rahughat Hydropower Project, the 48.5mw Upper Rahughat Hydropower Project, the 21.3 mw Thulokhola Hydropower Project and the 22.5 mw Upper Thulokhola Hydropower Project is connected to the national grid through the Rahughat switchyard.

Likewise, electricity produced by the Rahughat Hydropower Project, which is now in its final stage of construction, will also be connected to the national grid through the same switchyard and transmission line, informed Kattel.

According to Ganesh KC, Managing Director of Raghuganga Hydropower, construction of the tunnel, dam and powerhouse structures, as well as installation of equipment, has reached the final stage.

He said that the project is preparing for trial power generation.

The Indian civil contracting company Jaiprakash Associates (JP) was awarded a contract worth Rs 6 billion on November 17, 2017, with a target of completing the project within 45 months.

The deadline was extended three times over the time while work is progressing with the goal of completing the project within the fourth extended deadline, said KC.