SALIENT FEATURES OF KARNALI CHISAPANI STORAGE HYDROELECTRIC

PROJECT

SN FEATURES CHARACTERISTICS
GENERAL
1 Name of the Project Karnali Chisapani Storage Hydroelectric Project
2 Sector Hydropower
3 Type Storage Type (10,800 MW capacity as per Himalayan Power
Consultants Detailed Feasibility Study 1989)
PROJECT LOCATION
1 Project Area Located in Kailali and Bardiya district of Sudurpaschim and
Province 5 of Nepal respectively which is about 600 Km west
from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. The proposed
Headworks plus powerhouse location is upstream of the
existing Karnali Chisapani bridge. Proposed Dam-toe-
powerhouse coordinates: 28°40'07"N and 81° 17'09"E)
PROJECT FEATURES
1 Project Layout Gravel filled Embankment Dam is arranged at the Riverbed,
with Headrace tunnel and penstock pipe to carry discharge
to underground powerhouse on the left bank on dam toe with
installed capacity of 10,800 MW.
2 Hydrology Catchment Area: 43,679 km2
Long term Average Flow: 1389 m3/s
Design flow: the discharge equivalent to 60m draw down with
capacity factor of 20-30% during the dry season.
(Note: There is a Hydrological station of Department of
Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) at Chisapani immediate
downstream of project)
TECHNICAL COMPONENTS
1 Dam Gravel Filled embankment dam 270 m high.
2 Reservoir Full supply Level: 415m
Minimum Water Level: 355m
Gross Reservoir Capacity: 28,200 MCM
Live Storage Capacity: 16,200 MCM
Reservoir length: 100 Km.
 3 Waterway Headrace Tunnel: 6 tunnels of 15m diameter varying from 390-
880m
Vertical Shaft: 140m long - 6 vertical shafts of 14m diameter.
Penstock Pipe: 18 penstock pipes of 7.2m diameter and
average length 160-230 m are proposed for water
conveyance.
4 Powerhouse An underground power station, downstream of toe of the
dam on the left bank. 18 Francis Turbine with installed
capacity of 600 MW each.
The Tail water elevation to be fixed at 203 m.
5 Energy Generation Gross Head: 208m
Yearly Average Energy Generation= 20,842 GWh
Firm Energy Generation = 15,007 GWh
6 Power Evacuation The study proposed to evacuate the power to the Indian
market through 5 circuits 765 KV line of around 300 Km to
Major Indian load centres.
INDICATIVE FINANCIALS (AS PROPOSED BY HPC 1989)
1 Total Project Cost USD 4890 Million
2 Capital Cost per KW (excluding financing cost) USD 453 Million

Note: The project was proposed a Multi-purpose with the release water to irrigate the
lands in Nepal and India.