Moonlight Hydropower Pvt. Ltd.

About Moonlight Hydropower 

The Balephi -A Hydropower Project is a run-of-the-river (RoR) type Hydropower project located in Sindhupalchowk district.  The project will have a generation capacity of 10.60 MW and will be able to generate 58.15 GWh of energy annually after deduction of consumptive use, outage and system losses.  The present Feasibility Study has been carried out to establish the techno-viability of possible alternatives as well as validation of energy generation as produced in the Feasibility Study.  The Balephi Khola which is a perennial river having almost steady perennial flow, is one of the contributor and major tributary of the Sunkoshi River.  The Khola has 40% dependable flow which is estimated at 32.56 m3/sec, and which is adopted as the design discharge of the project.  The net head available for the project is (38.80-39.90 m) and gross head of 42.62 m.  Normal water level at weir is 912.00m. Water diverted to gravel trap through 7 nos of intake orifice of size 3.10 m x 2.10 m. Size of gravel trap is 12 mx 27 m and connected to approach canal of size (4.50 m width and 3.00 m height) upto settling basin having bed slope 1:500.The length of approach canal is 562 m. Settling basin was designed to settle 0.2mm quartz particle size with efficiency 88%. The effective size of the settling basin is (120 m x 16 m). After settling basin the water passes through headrace canal having length 1586 m upto forbay. Size of headrace canal is 4.5 m x 3.50 m with bed slope 1:1000.  The effective size of forbay is 30 m x 20 m x 8 m and at end of the forbay 3.90 m dia steel penstock pipe will be connected upto powerhouse. Length of penstock pipe is 215 m.The powerhouse is located just upstream of existing kathe pul at the right bank of Balephi Khola.  Likewise, the headworks is located at 910 masl, just upstream of suspension bridge and will be constructed of permanent structure.  Side intake followed by gravel trap and connecting canal to settling basin is the main structure.  Because of the good forest coverage upstream, sediment yield is expected significantly low.  Moreover, there is scattered settlement and thus probable pollution can be expected significantly low.

For the conformity of the estimated flow of the river; a gauge station was established and measured the river flow twice a day and also at the flash flood time. One complete dry season flow measured through gauge station; which guided to finalize the availability of dry flow in the river.

Analysis of sediment concentration in the river flow was conducted by the consultant in July-August 2012 and the report is presented in separate volume. 

Two fransis units are proposed to generate energy from the project.  Moreover, the generated energy will be taken to the nearest substation located at Proposed Sub-station at Sunkoshi Powerhouse. 

Topographically, the project site is easily accessible. Access road for the project site is in under construction. Key construction area such as headworks, settling basin, forbay, canal alignment, powerhouse and tailrace are easily accessible. 

Stability of the project components depends upon the geological stability of the project site. Surface geology throughout the project site was done and also conducted ERT and drilling works in the major structure sites like headworks, settling basin, forbay and powerhouse sites. Two separate volumes for ERT and Drilling works was prepared and presented separately.

An economic analysis has been carried out for the project.  The analysis has been phased based on assumptions for funds and financing available in the national and international market and the construction cost as well as the present payment for the energy made by the Nepal Electricity Authority.

Looking at the project configuration, it is envisaged that the construction time would be ranged between 30-36 months.  Headworks construction seems to be on critical path. PPA of this project is also concluded on 2069/7/15 and the date of CoD is 15th June 2018. Likewise IEE was also approved from the concern authority. 

The project cost after financing is MNRs 1934.54 whereas project construction cost is MNRs 1509.25.  The financial indicators such as BC ration after financing is 1.17, FIRR is 18.43, NPV is MNRs 423.68 and payback period is 8 years at base case.  Interest on debt is taken as 14%. 

 

Chairman

Birendra Bahadur Neupane