Rasuwa/Nuwakot, July 22 – The recent catastrophic flood triggered by an unexpected surge in the Lende River near Nepal’s northern border with Tibet has severely disrupted the country's energy infrastructure. As of now, 171 megawatts (MW) of hydropower remains offline, dealing a significant blow to Nepal’s electricity production and economy.
The flood, which occurred on July 9 (Asar 24), severely damaged multiple hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, including the major 111 MW Rasuwagadhi and 60 MW Upper Trishuli-3A plants. These two projects alone account for the entire 171 MW of power still disconnected from the national grid. According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), their resumption of operation remains uncertain as both sites require extensive reconstruction.
“The flood destroyed critical infrastructure, including the headworks of Rasuwagadhi,” said NEA spokesperson Rajan Dhakal, adding that temporary operation may be considered in winter when river levels subside. Meanwhile, repair work at Upper Trishuli-3A is underway and is expected to be completed within the next one to one-and-a-half months.
Initially, the flood had disrupted up to 260 MW of electricity generation, inflicting not only infrastructural damage but also causing financial losses in the range of billions of rupees due to lost power sales. However, six affected projects - including Chilime, Upper Mailung, Trishuli, Devighat, Suryakunda, and Buddhabhumi - have since resumed operations, collectively restoring 90 MW of power to the national system.
The disaster highlighted the fragility of Nepal’s hydropower sector in the face of extreme climate events. The flood not only damaged power generation sites but also affected key transmission infrastructure, such as the Trishuli-3B Hub, which has now been temporarily restored.
Experts note that full recovery will take months, with ongoing technical assessments required to evaluate the true extent of the damage. Spokesperson Dhakal emphasized that timelines for complete restoration can only be set once detailed evaluations are complete.
The flood impacted a total of nine major hydropower projects, which collectively contribute a substantial share to Nepal’s energy supply. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability to increasingly frequent and intense climate-related disasters.
Ecosphere News Commentary
This unfolding crisis underscores the urgent need for Nepal to strengthen the climate resilience of its energy infrastructure. While hydropower remains the backbone of the national grid, this incident demonstrates the growing risks posed by unanticipated natural hazards. Coordinated investments in early warning systems, diversified energy sources, and robust disaster recovery planning must now become national priorities.
