The first and second units of the Kulekhani Hydropower Project are now fully automated, allowing four turbines to operate entirely via computer without manual intervention.

Nepali technicians completed the work in 55 days, starting from the second week of September. “All four machines in the first and second units are now computer-controlled. Manual operation is no longer required,” said Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Automation Project Chief Umang Karki. Previously, manpower was needed to start and stop the turbines.

The project cost around Rs250 million, far lower than a Japanese company’s Rs750 million quote. Karki said skilled Nepali engineers worked 24 hours a day to complete the task on schedule. The plant had been shut down for automation and maintenance work.

Built about 43 years ago, the first and second units required automation due to outdated equipment. The reservoir-based project primarily operates during the dry season as a backup, generating electricity based on demand using water stored in Indrasarovar, an artificial lake, which feeds all three Kulekhani plants.

This year, low rainfall has left the reservoir largely empty. As of Sunday morning, the water level stood at 1,520.59 centimetres, rising only 5–6 centimetres in 24 hours. The reservoir has a maximum capacity of 1,530 metres, leaving over nine metres to fill. A technician noted that low water could affect dry-season electricity production. Last year, overflow caused damage to bridges, roads, and local settlements.

Indrasarovar, constructed in 1977 at $12 million, supplies water to all three Kulekhani plants. The automation ensures seamless operation of the first and second units and lays the groundwork for future automation of the third unit.