The Marsyangdi Hydel- Developing the Nepalese Know-How in the Power Sector

About the Book The Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-river station located at the foothills of Ghorka in central Nepal. The Marsyangdi Khola belongs to Gandaki basin, it originates in the high Himalayas at the Anapurnas, Manaslu and peaks located in Tibet. The installed capacity is 69 MW with a designed average generation of 462.5 GWh. It was commissioned at the fall of 1989 and currently generates nearly 50% of the total hydroelectric energy available in the Nepalese system. From the beginning of the nineties Marsyangdi has been the key asset of NEA and the major work horse of the system. It contributes effectively minimizing the energy constraints suffered nationwide and allows for some export of energy during the high discharge period from June to September. It has been the first project in the Nepalese power sector implemented with a large multilateral aid package, from which approximately half has been a grant from the Federal Republic of Germany.

An important component of the project implementation has been the staff training for operation and maintenance (O&M). It has been targeted to build up the Nepalese Know-How to ensure the O&M sustainability of the project. Under this programme a significant number of staff have been trained in a variety of specializations required for the O&M of the Project and for further implementations as well. The approach has been a combination of on-the-job guidance, specialized courses, specific plant trainings and management support. The O&M of the station poses an important challenge to NEA and to the Nepalese engineers and technicians. The equipment includes modern features and is subjected to the severe conditions prevailing in the Himalayas, high sediment ladden waters during the monsoon and huge fluctuations of flow with regular floods. To cope with these difficulties hard and effective work with sound technical practices are required. The previous NEA performance on O&M is, with few exceptions, far from satisfactory and a radical change is needed if NEA shall maintain and operate effectively the developed energy resources.

About the Author Enric Coma Salvans has been Shadow Manager of the Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project from 1990 to 1995 advising Nepal Electricity Authority on training and O&M of the project. With ample international experience in the hydroelectric sector, born Catalan (Spain), professionally based in Germany, worked worldwide in different projects. He received the B.S.M.E. from the Polytechnical University of Barcelona (Spain), the M.S.M.E. and the PhD on Engineering Management from the Pacific Western University, Los Angeles, C.A.(U.S.A.).

Foreword I truly congratulate Mr.Coma for bringing out such revealing experiences on the implementation of an important project like Marsyangdi in the Nepalese environment characterized by a poor economic condition and low technical and managerial experience.

This book should be a good reference and an eye opener to those who are associated with the task of policy and decision making regarding implementation of similar projects. High attention shall be paid to ensure the effective transfer and build up of the required know-how to the concerned personnel for reliable and efficient operation of the plant in most economic way for the projects intended life.

Hydroelectric projects are not only technical features comprising many complex electromechanical and civil structures, but in a way are an interface between the natural forces and the human beings to derive useful benefits. A slight misunderstanding or negligence in the part of maintenance or operations can cause a lot of damage and loss of benefits from such costly projects.

The importance of having well trained, motivated and ready to work personnel is a basic premiss and should not be ignored. In order to develop NEA as a good performing utility, it must emphasize in the development of the capabilities of its personnel to operate, maintain and repair plants and equipments timely and effectively.

Preface The Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project was built from 1986 through 1989. It followed the construction of Kulekhani I and II and has been at this point of time the largest project in the Power Sector implemented by His Majesty's the Government of Nepal. It started just when NEA came into life as a new corporation. Although few hydroelectric projects have been already implemented, considering the current state of the Nepalese development, the relatively large volume of the project works posed a huge challenge to the available technical and skilled manpower. The investment topped the ratios of development expenditures in the country and arouse serious controversies related to its cost and expected return. It has been executed with a massive injection of foreign aid, approximately half of it as grant and the rest under convenient soft loans.

The implementing agencies and in general all involved parties reflected during all stages of execution a deep concern with the operation and maintenance sustainability of the project. NEA has been under intense pressure from different sides, it has slowly taken up its responsibilities as the national state corporation in the power sector, has gained confidence in its operations and has a track of corporation development undertakings despite remarkable constraints.

During the first years of Marsyangdi's operation, technical assistance has been given to NEA in the operation and maintenance of the project.

**Contents and Sample Pages**