COVEC, the China Overseas Engineering Group, has been awarded the EUR94.41 million Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project (BBDMP) by Nepal’s Ministry of Water and Irrigation. During the dry season the Bheri River flows at a speed of 79 cu m/sec. Irrigation of some 60,000 hectares of the Banke and Bardia regions will be possible by diverting water from the Bheri to the Babai. The project will also produce 480GWH/year of electricity from a hydro station which will require TBM construction of a 12 km-long water tunnel of 5 m-diameter and 4.2 m inside diameter. The TBM system requires a power supply of 4 MW using a diesel plant. The project is scheduled to be completed in four years. Visit http://www.bbdmp.gov.np/ and http://en.covec.com/news_detail/newsId=8707cf9b-6ab7-450f-9c3f-6ad67a151cc5.html. 08/15.

Geodata was awarded the Construction Supervision of the 12km-long headrace tunnel of the Bheri Babai Multipurpose Project. The project plans to transfer water to irrigate 60,000 hectares of farmland in Bardiya and Banke regions and supply 480GWh electricity per annum, involving the supply and construction of a 12km water tunnel. Visit http://www.geodata.it/. 42/15.

Contractor Sino Hydro reports completion of 8 km of total 16 km of tunnels at 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project. Advances to date: main tunnel 2,569 m of 7,848 m; tailrace 1,349 m of 2,986 m; adits complete at 1,475 m; tunnels within powerhouse 2,609 m of 3,003 m; other small tunnels not started 650 m. Completion of project now scheduled mid-April, 2016. Further information from UTKHPL in Kathmandu, tel +977 01 4420295, e-mail neautp@mos.com.np, and visit www.tamakoshihydro.org.np. See tunnelbuilder archive np/18 for project details. 09/13.

Government of Nepal has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nepal Purbadhar Bikas Company NPBC for construction of the Kathmandu-Kulekhani-Hetauda road, financed as a PPP venture. The 48 km-long four-lane highway, which includes a 3 km-long tunnel between Bhimphedi and Kulekhani, will be designed and constructed over a period of four years at a cost of EUR285 million. On completion, the trip from Kathmandu will take an hour compared to the current 7-8 hours. Click here for latest report. More from Lal Krishna at Full Bright Consultancy in Kathmandu, tel +977 (1) 4433149, e-mail fbc@mos.com.np, website www.fbc.com.np. 21/12.

Invitation for prequalification, deadline 20th June, 2008 for the main civil works of the 309 MW Upper Tamakoshi hydroelectric project (contract No. UTKHEP/03-2064/65) which consist of a 22.5 m-high and 60 m-long diversion dam; the Bhaise Khola intake structure including an approx. 60 m-long connecting shaft to the headrace tunnel; a 7,200 m-long low pressure headrace tunnel having a cross-section of 29 sq m; two construction adits (one at Bhaise and the other at the pressure shaft area); a 2,055 m-long pressure shaft and tunnel (unlined, concrete lined and steel lined); a 15 m-wide x 24 m-high x 113 m-long powerhouse cavern; a 13 m x 18 m x 112 m transformer cavern; a 2,500 m-long tailrace tunnel; various access and auxiliary tunnels; about 10 km connecting roads to the project's different work fronts; and maintenance of the 68 km Charikot-Dolakha-Singati-Lamabagar access road and upgrading if required. The project is located on the Tamakoshi River in Dolakha district in Janakpur zone in Central Development Region of Nepal. Contact Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Project director, Upper Tamakoshi hydroelectric project, Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited, Kamalpokhari, PO Box 26070, Kathmandu. Tel. +977 14421988, 14420295, fax +977 14412569, e-mail neautp@mos.com.np or visit www.nea.org.np/INVITATION_FOR_PREQUALIFICATION.pdf and www.nea.org.np/tender.php for documents.Visit the project's website at www.nea.org.np/utkhep 15/08.

Revised dates for invitations to prequalify for 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project as follows: deadline 30.11.2009, for submission of proposals for consultancy services for construction supervision; deadline 08.12.2009, for Lot 2 Hydromechanical Equipment; and deadline 09.12.2009, for Lot 3 M & E Equipment. Further information from Bimal Gurung in Kathmandu, tel +977 144-21988, fax -12569, e-mail neaut@mos.com.np and visit www.tamakoshihydro.org.np. See tunnelbuilder archive np/18 for project details. 45/09.

Invitation for bids, deadline 9th April, 2006 for qualification and tender for construction under Lot 1 of the Chameliya hydroelectric project in Darchula district. This is a 30 MW plant located on the Chameliya river, a tributary of the Mahakali river, situated in Darchula district of Far Western Region, 18 km north east of Gokule and about 950 km away from Kathmandu. The main features of the project are: 54 m-high diversion dam, underground desander with two chambers, 4,075 m-long headrace tunnel, surge tank and semi underground powerhouse. The total cost of the project is estimated at USD74.9 million. Contact Nepal Electricity Authority, Chameliya hydroelectric project, Generation construction department, 44 Anup Marg Meenbhawan, Kathmandu, tel. +977 4482788 or 4480924, fax +977 4476086 or visit www.nea.org.np/chameliya.pdf 08/06.

  Prequalification invited in September, 2001 for two tunnel contracts, one for contractors from Norway, Sweden and Nepal, and the other for international bidding as part of the 27 km drinking water tunnel from the Melamchi River in Sindhupalchowk district to northeast Kathmandu. Shortlist of contractors by February, 2002. Construction to begin from April, 2002 and completion in 2006. Swedish International Development Agency to donate NPR1.96 billion. Total project cost estimated at US$464 million. Asian Development Bank and the Nepal government are financing about a quarter of the cost each. Other financiers include Norway's development agency NORAD, and the Nordic Development Fund. Detail design by Norplan. Visit www.norplan.com 47/01.Invitation for prequalification, deadline 2nd May, 2008 for the construction and completion of headworks and tunnel construction (contract MDS/DT/01). The main scope of works include construction of a diversion tunnel, approximately 26.3 km long with cross section between 12 to 20 square metres, to be excavated by drill and blast method, construction of headworks intake structures and access roads, and hydraulic steelworks. Contact Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, Executive Director, Devkota Road, Baneswor, Kathmandu, Nepal, Tel. +977 14475303, fax +977 14468962, e-mail procurement@melamchiwater.org. Visit www.melamchiwater.org/busi_opp.htm 16/08.Pöyry together with Hifab International and its Nepalese partner Multi Disciplinary Consultants has been awarded a consultancy contract by the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, comprising design and construction supervision services for the headworks and a 26.3 km-long water diversion tunnel. Pöyry's share of the contract value is about EUR7 million. The tunnel will divert 170 million litres of water daily from the Melamchi river to the Kathmandu valley to ease chronic water shortages in that area. Construction of the water tunnel will start by beginning of 2009 and should be completed by 2013-14. Visit www.poyry.com, www.hifab.se, www.multinepal.com/mdc/home.php and www.melamchiwater.org 30/08.

Sealed bids invited, deadline 21.01.2013, for construction and completion of works at Melamchi Water Supply project including headworks and intake structure, permanent support for already-completed 6.5 km-long tunnel, construction of 21.3 km-long water diversion tunnel with permanent support, and associated concrete and structural works. Project funded by ADB, estimated cost EUR57.3 million. Download complete tender documents at http://www.melamchiwater.org/announcement/Bid-announcement.php. 50/12.

CMC Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti di Ravenna has been contracted, between four firms competing, for construction and completion of works at Melamchi Water Supply project, including headworks and intake structure, permanent support for already-completed 6.5 km-long tunnel, construction of 21.3 km-long water diversion tunnel with permanent support, and associated concrete and structural works. Value of contract Rs 7.72 billion, duration 36 months. Tunnel excavation will be from six faces using six drillrigs. The first contract for construction of headworks and tunnel was awarded on 19.02.2009 to China Railway 15 Bureau Group with intended completion date of 02.09.2013. Earlier, on Dec 01.12.2012, the government floated a fresh tender for the headworks and diversion tunnel construction after the previous contractor abandoned the project midway. The Melamchi Project is expected to be fully completed by June-July 2016. Visit www.adb.org, www.melamchiwater.org and http://cmcgruppo.com. 30/13.

Eurorient Investment Group of the U.S. seeking financial backing and a power purchase deal prior to building Arun 3, 402 MW Himalayan hydro for Nepal works and water resources ministry. Visit www.eurorient.com Sept 2000.

Notice for Expression of Interest, deadline 21.08.2016, for the Construction Supervision and Contract Management of about 24 km of length of access road starting from Gola (proposed powerhouse site of the Project, near Barun Bazar) to Chepuwa (proposed dam site) includes about a 1.7 km long road tunnel and two bridges over Arun River (one at Gola for 335MW Upper Arun Hydroelectric Project and another at Uwa Gaun for 30MW Ikhuwa Khola Project) from the nearest point of Koshi Highway under construction and other civil works.  The estimated time of the entire service is about 64 calendar months: 22 months for Phase I and 42 months for Phase II.
The shortlisted Consultants shall prepare separate technical proposal for Phase I and Phase II and shall be submitted separately during RFP (Request for Proposal) so that the contract can be signed for phase wise services on the basis of separate financial proposals. Contact Nepal Electricity Authority,  Upper Arun Hydroelectric Project, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, tel +977-1- 4153039, fax +977-1- 4153040, e-mail upperarun@nea.org.np. Visit http://www.nea.org.np. Ref.n. UAHEP/AR/QCBS-3. 32/16.

60 MW run of river plant on Khimti Khola river being developed as a 50-year own-operate scheme under private management by licensee Himal Power Ltd, which is owned 74 % by Statkraft of Norway. Other partners are ABB Energi, Kvaerner Energy and Butwal Power Company of Nepal. Construction commenced June, 1996 but poor rock quality has caused problems accompanied by delays. However, the contractors have kept to overall schedule and startup should take place on time in 2000. More background information from www.statkraft.no April 2000. Contractor prequalification expected September, 2001 for 27 km-long tunnel to be let in two contracts by Melamchi Water Development Board as part of $400 million scheme. Tenders to be invited February, 2002 for construction start in April, 2002. One package reserved for contractors from aid donors Sweden and Norway. Details from www.adb.org 21/01.

$453 million run-of-river scheme with 6 km of 7.4 m-diameter diversion tunnel to 3 x 48 MW turbines starting January, 1997. Funded 70 % by Japan OECF and Asian Development Bank, with local costs paid by Nepal Electricity Authority. November 1996.