New Butwal-Bardaghat 220 kV Transmission Line Completed

The construction of the 21.5 km New Butwal-Bardaghat 220 kV double-circuit transmission line has been successfully completed and is now operational. Funded by the Government of Nepal, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), and a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank, the project cost approximately Rs. 1 billion. This critical infrastructure connects the New Butwal substation in Nawalparasi to Bardaghat Municipality, enhancing the reliability of Nepal’s electricity transmission system.

The transmission line can carry up to 1,200 MW of electricity, forming a robust 220 kV backbone from New Butwal to Hetauda. It integrates hydropower generated in the Kaligandaki and Marsyangdi river corridors into the national grid and supports the export of surplus electricity during the monsoon to India via the Dhalkebar station. Additionally, it allows electricity imports during winter to meet domestic demand in the western regions.

Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of NEA, highlighted the project’s impact on stabilizing voltage and improving grid reliability. He noted that the infrastructure would make it easier to manage electricity flows from hydropower projects and enable bilateral electricity trade once the ongoing Butwal-Gorakhpur 400 kV cross-border transmission line is completed.

The project overcame several challenges, including forest clearance, environmental impact assessments in the Chure region, and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kaligandaki and Marsyangdi corridors, along with the multi-circuit 220 kV line from Sunwal to New Butwal, have positioned Nepal to strengthen its internal transmission system and expand regional energy trade.