Upper Phawa Khola reaches commercial operation

Unitech Hydropower Company Limited has announced commercial operation of the Upper Phawa Khola Hydroelectric Project — a 5.8 MW run-of-river scheme in Taplejung district. The plant draws design discharge of 2.6 m³/s from Phawa Khola with a gross head of 270 m and net head of 260.1 m, delivering power to the national grid through the Amarpur substation. Commercial operation date is recorded as BS 2081/01/08 per company disclosure.

The project corridor spans Pathivara Yangbarak and Dumrise Shrijangha rural municipalities, with headworks at Ose Dobhan and a surface powerhouse near Dumrise. Conveyance includes a 4,357 m headrace pipe, surge tank, 461 m penstock, and twin Pelton units — reflecting the high-gradient alpine hydrology typical of eastern Nepal's river systems.

Annual PPA energy is modelled at 33.05 GWh, with a dry-season and wet-season profile aligned to Nepal's hydrological calendar. Interconnection is via an 8 km, 33 kV line to Amarpur (132/33 kV), supporting reliable evacuation from the operational asset into the regional transmission network.

For Unitech Hydropower, Upper Phawa Khola represents the company's first operational run-of-river asset — proof of delivery from licence and PPA through civil works, electromechanical commissioning, and grid connection. The project underpins the corporate mandate to convert Nepal's river resources into disciplined, long-term renewable capacity.