Lalbandi-Salempur 132 kV Transmission Line Goes Live, Boosting Power Supply in Sarlahi
The Lalbandi-Salempur 132 kV double-circuit transmission line and the 132/33/11 kV Chainpur substation have been commissioned in Sarlahi, Nepal. The project, financed jointly by the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) at a cost of Rs 1.12 billion, is expected to improve electricity reliability and quality for thousands of consumers.
KATHMANDU, Sept 22 – The Lalbandi-Salempur 132 kV double-circuit transmission line and the 132/33/11 kV Chainpur substation in Sarlahi have come into operation, strengthening electricity supply in the district.
The new transmission line stretches about 20 kilometers from the Nawalpur substation in Lalbandi Municipality-1 to Chainpur in Chakraghatta Rural Municipality-7.
The Chainpur substation has been equipped with two 132/33 kV transformers of 30 MVA each and one 33/11 kV transformer of 24 MVA, bringing its total capacity to 84 MVA. Five 33 kV feeders and six 11 kV feeders have also been installed to facilitate local power distribution.
According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the project is expected to improve the reliability and quality of electricity supply in Malangwa, Haripur, Haripurwa, Dumariya and Barhathwa, while helping reduce power leakage, low-voltage problems and frequent tripping.
The infrastructure will also support rising electricity demand in the area and strengthen the overall power supply system.
NEA Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said the authority has prioritized expanding and strengthening transmission and distribution infrastructure to provide consumers with reliable electricity at adequate voltage.
A contract worth Rs 1.12 billion was signed in April 2022 to construct the transmission line and substation, with the contract coming into effect in May 2023. The Government of Nepal and the NEA jointly financed the project.