Kathmandu, Nepal - Darchula Power Limited, a company established to develop and operate hydropower projects for supplying electricity to Nepal’s national grid, has successfully concluded its 9th Annual General Meeting (AGM) today. The meeting reviewed the company’s progress and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the 28.3 MW Madhya Chameliya Hydroelectric Project in Sudurpashchim Province.
The Madhya Chameliya project is a run-of-river hydropower scheme being developed on the Chameliya River, a major tributary of the Mahakali River, located in Marma Rural Municipality of Darchula district. The project lies between latitudes 29°42′55″ to 29°45′00″ North and longitudes 80°46′45″ to 80°42′38″ East, with the intake and powerhouse situated at elevations of 1,042.26 meters and 906 meters above mean sea level respectively.
Api Power Company Limited, one of Nepal’s leading private-sector power developers, is the principal promoter and majority shareholder of Darchula Power Limited, holding a 51 percent stake. Api Power has committed to investing the required equity for project development, drawing on its experience in power generation and grid-connected electricity supply.
According to the company, the effective catchment area of the Chameliya River at the intake site is approximately 769.67 square kilometers. Hydrological studies have established a design discharge of 25.17 cubic meters per second at a 40 percent probability of flow exceedance. With a gross head of 136.26 meters and a net available head of 128.46 meters at the powerhouse, the project will employ two horizontal-axis Francis turbines, each with a capacity of 14.59 MW, generating a total installed capacity of 28.3 MW.
The project is expected to produce about 185.62 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, including 118.52 GWh during the wet season and 67.10 GWh in the dry season. This generation profile is expected to contribute meaningfully to Nepal’s energy security, particularly during the dry months when power shortages remain a concern.
For power evacuation, Darchula Power Limited plans to utilize the existing 132 kV double-circuit transmission line constructed and operated by Api Power Company Limited for the Mathilo Chameliya Hydroelectric Project. Electricity will be transmitted to the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Balanch Substation in Darchula district.
On the regulatory and environmental front, the company has already obtained a survey license from the Department of Electricity Development (DoED) under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and completed the project’s detailed survey. The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) has been approved by the Ministry, and land acquisition activities have already begun. A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Nepal Electricity Authority was signed on 29th Ashwin 2080 B.S., ensuring a secured market for the project’s output.
Following the AGM, the company confirmed that it has applied for the Generation License from the DoED and is preparing to commence construction soon after receiving final approvals.
With the successful conclusion of its 9th AGM, Darchula Power Limited marks an important milestone in the development of the Madhya Chameliya Hydroelectric Project, which is expected to support regional development in Far Western Nepal while strengthening the national power system through clean, renewable energy.
