Need for hydropower Link
Abhay Kumar Singh, Chairman of State-run NHPC Ltd
Q: How has hydropower been performing?
Hydropower is going to be much higher this year. Due to heavy winter snow and early summer, heavy water flows have arrived in April itself. So, April and May months were very good. June to September period remain the peak for hydropower. Hydropower has helped the power situation as domestic coal production and coal transportation are overstressed due to strong power demand and sky-high global prices.
Q: How should we build hydro capacity? What is the strategic importance of North East projects?
Hydropower is green, neat and clean. HP storage projects ensure water security for the future and control floods.
There is an urgent requirement for new hydro-storage and pump-storage plants. Pump storage has a life of more than 100 years, while battery storage lasts less than 15 years. Hydro-storage helps to bring more renewable power to the grid. Hydro-storage can be more easily built in North East as compared to J&K and other Northern states.
North East projects are also important for strategic flood control. Of the eight river basins in Arunachal Pradesh, four are major basins—Subansiri, Lohit, Dibang and Siang. According to a Central Water Commission study, one big reservoir is required to be built in each of these basins. When all the reservoirs are ready, water levels of Brahmaputra in Guwahati will be lower by 1.8 to 2 metres during peak flood. If you lower the water level by two metres, you will not have floods!!
Q: China is building a dam upsteam of Siang and Brahmaputra. How does it affect India?
Around 75% of the water comes from our catchment area which gives us water security. But if this rogue country [China] completes the dam and opens the gates, it can flood our areas whenever it wants.
China’s 14th five-year plan proposes building a massive dam over the Brahmaputra river (at "U-turn before entering India"), known in China as the Yarlung Tsangpo. Centre has decided to fast forward its plans to build the Upper Siang multipurpose HP storage project. Its dam will be the 2nd largest by volume, after the important Indira Sagar dam in MP.
"Earlier China said they were not doing anything. Later they said that they are constructing run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects. And now there is evidence that they will also work on water transfer.
"We have got clarity on other things. There is some small resistance at the local level, which the Arunachal government is working on. The total cost must be around ₹50,000 crore. Cost is immaterial. It should be constructed.
"Brahmaputra river has a huge 500 BCM (billion cubic metres) of water flowing into it and 75% comes from our catchment area. That’s the reason why we are not affected as much. But in the non-monsoon season when the river gets water from snowmelt, we don’t have water in our catchment area. So if they construct a dam and divert water in the non-monsoon seasons, then it will have an impact from Arunachal Pradesh to Bangladesh".
Amiet R. Kashyap @Amitraaz 2 Dec 2020
India plans to construct a multipurpose reservoir in Arunachal Pradesh. The proposed 9.2 BCM dam in 'Upper Siang' project, on the Siang river, should be able to take the excess load of water discharge from monsoon rains or from Chinese dams upstream. It can even store water in case of any deficit. 90% of the Brahmaputra's water comes through its tributaries in India during the monsoon season, in winters 80% of the Siang river gets its water from upper stretches as glaciers become the main source.
Q: What is the status of Subansiri project (2.25 BCM dam, HP cum flood moderation, 2000 MW Subansiri Lower HP)?
Progress in Subansiri has been very good and we are thinking to commission two machines in August 2022. We are making efforts now but there have been heavy rains since April. So, for some dam-related work outside and some structures, we are facing some difficulties. Work has been going very well. We had a target of four units in August. Even if they get delayed, we will be able to complete the four units by March 2023.
Q: Apart from Upper Siang projects (tentative start in 2025 with 250 MW & 375 MW projects; potential for 9,750MW and a massive 10BCM reservoir), are there any new projects in the upper reaches of Arunachal (ie. Subansiri, Dibang and Siang)? What is the status of Dibang project?
We are doing preparation work for other projects on Subansiri river. We are working on Middle Subansiri (1,800 MW) and Upper Subansiri (2,000 MW) projects. We are doing a detailed desk study on them. The projects were previously allotted to private companies. A task force has been made and we have hired a private consultant EY which is doing some consultancy work on costs and pricing.
We have done the land acquisition in Dibang (2,880 MW, HP cum flood moderation, 9 year time to completion). It had gone for Public Investment Board (PIB) clearance and there were some queries. We are ready to award one other package that is called divergent tunnel as we have to divert the river. It takes at least two to three years time to complete the divergent tunnel works. Once it is completed, then we will be able to start the dam work. Dibang Multipurpose Project is envisaged as a storage project with flood moderation as the key objective.
Arunachal signs MOUs for 5,097 MW hydro projects in Dibang Valley 29 Dec 2021
SJVN will develop 5 large hydroprojects, including Etalin (3097MW). Elalin is set to become India's largest hydropower project. "We plan to invest Rs 60,000cr and begin commissioning them by 8-10 years. Arunachal govt believes in allocating hydro projects in one river basin to one developer, so it can optimally utilize manpower, infrastructure and finances".
Dibang Resistance which opposes the projects is active again. It says Dibang is a tiger wildlife sanctuary, a bio-diversity hot-spot and home to two indigenous tribes. It say Arunachal govt actually plans for over 17 power projects in Dibang basin!!
Forest advisory committee will give the final clearance. According to a member, "Firstly, we must think about the need for such a project. Clean energy is required in view of climate change. Hydropower provides that. India is still developing and energy is a must. FAC will discuss the trade-off."
Chandrashekhar Dhage @cbdhage
ETALIN Hydro Electric Project in Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh is deferred for Forest clearance since 2015. It proposes to be world's tallest concrete gravity dam, at 288 M tall; and India largest dam & largest HE project with 3097 MW capacity. Expert Committee asked for few reports to resubmit within 3 weeks. As Usual, few Leftist portals started negative narrative.
THDC, a subsidiary of NTPC, gets two mega dams in Lohit basin in Arunachal 28 Dec 2021
Centre and Arunachal government have agreed to build Kalai-II (1200 MW) and 1750 ME Demwe (Lower) (1750 MW) in the Lohit basin. THDC (subsequently acquired by NTPC) is entrusted to develop both mega hydropower projects, as per the state policy of offering projects on a basin-wide basis. THDC is an experienced operator in Uttarakhand, and is currently executing Tehri PSP (1000 MW).
NEEPCO, a subsidiary of NTPC, gets a massive push to develop hydro in Arunachal 8 Feb 2022
NEEPCO has been recently allocated 17 large Hydro Projects by the Ministry of Power in Arunachal Pradesh totaling more than 6000 MW. NEEPCO contributes more than 45% energy requirement of the North East, among other states.
Q: What is the status of projects in Sikkim that were taken over by NHPC?
NHPC emerged highest bidders under NCLT resolutions process, for Teesta VI (500 MW) and Rangit IV (120 MW) hydropower projects. They had been stalled for many years before we took over. Construction is started for the balance of the work and completion is expected in early 2024.
Q: What are your current projects in Nepal?
Nepal has a huge potential of 83,000 MW of hydropower, and only 1,500 MW has been developed.
We are doing some work in Nepal. We have an MoU in the final stages for West Seti (750 MW) and then Phutot Karnali (480 MW). We will do the MoU, then we will be working on the feasibility report (FR), then as per liability, we will go for making the project. DPR (detailed project report) will be after FR. The power sharing agreement will be such that Nepal will have the first right to take the power. If suppose they don’t want to take the power, we will take the surplus power to India and also transmit it to Bangladesh.
In Nepal, we have identified three sites at Karnali on West Seti. They (Nepal government) said that work should start soon on West Seti. The draft MoU has been done; now, the Nepal government is looking into it. That is almost in final stages now. Likewise, in terms of Phutot Karnali, we have made the MoU, approved and sent it and discussions are underway on it. They want NHPC to develop all hydropower projects.
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Q: Tell us about hydropower projects being pursued in J&K and HP? Link
Ten projects worth 6.8GW, Rs 68,000cr are being constructed or to start by 2023.
These projects are strategic as they affect international water flows with Pakistan. Also, with Ujh project, J&K (tributary of Ravi), India plans to stop its share of water from going to Pakistan. It mirrors India's difficulties with China, where India plans to construct the country’s second-largest dam at Yingkiong, Arunachal.
— ► Under construction:- 1,000 MW Pakal Dul project, 850 MW Ratle project, 624 MW Kiru project and 540 MW Kwar project, in Jammu and Kashmir; and 800 MW Parbati-II in Himachal.
— ► Under firm consideration:- 1,856 MW Sawalkot, 930 MW Kirthai-II, 240 MW Uri-I Stage-II, and 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II in J&K; and 500 MW Dugar in Himachal.
NHPC Limited @nhpcltd
Government of India has approved investment of Rs.973 Crs, for pre-construction activities for 1856MW Sawalkote HEP. It will be the largest hydroproject in J&K!
As per news report, MOU for Sawalkot project, a run-of-the-river project was signed in 2021. Tender for turnkey execution was done in 3/22. Sawalkot in 2 phases (1406 & 450 MW) will take 10 years and cost Rs 12,200cr. HE projects viz Kirthai-II, Dulhasti-Stage II and Uri-I Stage-II (240 MW) & many transmission projects have also been taken-up.
As per video, tender has been floated for Dugar. Awards of all contracts will happen within 1 year; and projects will get completed one by one till 2026. Sawalkot, Dibang, etc would take till 2029-30.
Q: Any other news from NHPC?We are discussing with states (Maha, AP, Odisha, J&K, Jhar, Mizo, MP) to set up 20.8 GW of PSP (pumped storage plants) of 20.8 GW for Rs 62,400cr. It includes pre-feasibility studies, DPRs and setting up JV with state entities. India needs a minimum of 10 GW of PSP by 2030. Our work involves proposals of: 9.05GW in Maharashtra, 6GW in AP, 2.5GW Odisha, 1.65GW J& K and 1GW Mizoram.
We have JV with MP for 500-600 MW PSP. A MOU was signed with Damodar Valley Corp (in Jharkhand, WB) for exploring & setting up Hydropower & Pump storage projects.
We have awarded 1000 MW solar project for completion in 18mo. We are doing 3 R&D pilot projects for green hydrogen in HP, Leh and Kargil.
