Kulekhani Dam

Kulekhani Dam
The reservoir, Indra Sarobar
Location of Kulekhani Dam in Nepal
Country	Nepal
Location	Kulekhani, Makwanpur District, Narayani Zone
Coordinates	27°35′27.08″N 85°9′20.85″E / 27.5908556°N 85.1557917°ECoordinates: 27°35′27.08″N 85°9′20.85″E / 27.5908556°N 85.1557917°E
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1977
Opening date	1982
Construction cost	US$117.84 million
Owner(s)	Nepal Electricity Authority
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment, rock-fill
Impounds	Kulekhani River
Height	114 m (374 ft)
Length	397 m (1,302 ft)
Elevation at crest	1,534 m (5,033 ft)
Width (crest)	10 m (33 ft)
Dam volume	4,400,000 m^3 (5,800,000 cu yd)
Reservoir
Creates	Kulekhani Reservoir (Indra Sarobar)
Total capacity	85,300,000 m^3 (69,200 acre·ft)
Active capacity	73,300,000 m^3 (59,400 acre·ft)
Inactive capacity	12,000,000 m^3 (9,700 acre·ft)
Catchment area	126 km^2 (49 sq mi)
Surface area	2.2 km^2 (0.85 sq mi)
Max. length	7 km (4.3 mi)
Normal elevation	1,530 m (5,020 ft)
Power station
Name	Kulekhani-I Hydropower Station
Coordinates	27°32′24.81″N 85°6′48.82″E / 27.5402250°N 85.1135611°E
Commission date	Kulekhani I: 1982 Kulekhani II: 1986 Kulekhani III: 2015 (est.)
Type	Conventional, diversion
Hydraulic head	Kulekhani I: 550 m (1,800 ft) Kulekhani II: 284.1 m (932 ft) Kulekhani III: 102.56 m (336.5 ft)
Turbines	Kulekhani I: 2 x 30 MW Pelton-type Kulekhani II: 2 x 16 MW Francis-type Kulekhani III: 2 x 7 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	Kulekhani I: 60 MW Kulekhani II: 32 MW Kulekhani III: 14 MW (est.) Total: 92 MW
Annual generation	Kulekhani I: 211 GWh Kulekhani II: 104.6 GWh

The Kulekhani Dam is a rock-fill dam on the Kulekhani River near Kulekhani in Makwanpur District of Narayani Zone, Nepal. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports the 60 MW Kulekhani I and 32 MW Kulekhani II Hydropower Stations. Construction began in 1977 and Kulekhani I was commissioned in 1982. Kulekhani II was commissioned in 1986 and a third power station, the 14 MW Kulekhani III was expected to be commissioned in May 2015 but is delayed to issues with the builder. The US$117.84 million project received funding from the World Bank, Kuwait Fund, UNDP, Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund and OPEC Fund. It is owned by Nepal Electricity Authority.^[1][2]

The 114 m (374 ft) tall dam creates a reservoir called Indra Sarobar which stores 85,300,000 m³ (69,200 acre·ft) of water. From the reservoir, water is sent to the Kulekhani I Hydropower Station via a 5.8 km (3.6 mi) headrace tunnel to a gate house which controls the flow of water to the power station. From the gate house water travels down a 1,340 m (4,400 ft) long penstock where it reaches the underground power station. It contains two 30 MW Pelton turbine-generators. The difference in elevation between the reservoir and the power station affords a net hydraulic head of 550 m (1,800 ft). Water discharged from the power station then enters a series of tunnels and diversions where it reaches the Kulekhani II Hydropower Station which is also located underground and contains two 16 MW Francis turbine-generators. The elevation difference between the reservoir and the power station affords a net hydraulic head of 284.1 m (932 ft). The dam and reservoir are in the Bagmati River basin while the power stations are in the Rapti River basin.^[1]

Construction of the Kulekhani III Hydropower Station has been underway since 2008 and is expected to be complete in May 2015. It will use the tailwaters of Kulekhani II and have an installed capacity of 14 MW.^[3]

References

1. Dhakal, Manjeet (2011). "Climate Change Impacts on Reservoir based Hydropower Generation in Nepal: A case study of Kulekhani Hydropower Plant" (PDF). School of Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Pokhara University. pp. 15–17. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
2. "Nepal u Appraisal of the Kulekhani Hydroelectric Project" (PDF). World Bank. 25 November 1975. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
3. "Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project : Construction Supervision and Construction Management (14 MW)". Total Management Services Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 1 March 2015.