| Upper Karnali Hydropower Project | |
| Name Official: | Upper Karnali Hydropower Project |
| Location Map: | Nepal |
| Coordinates: | 28.9231°N 81.4722°W |
| Dam Crosses: | Karnali River |
| Location: | Nepal |
| Dam Type: | Gravity |
| Dam Height: | 64m (210feet) |
| Dam Length: | 207m (679feet) |
| Construction Began: | unknown |
| Opening: | 2024 (est.) |
| Status: | Proposed |
| Owner: | Nepal Electricity Authority |
| Plant Name: | Upper Karnali Hydropower Station |
| Plant Coordinates: | 28.9006°N 81.4444°W |
| Plant Type: | R |
| Plant Commission: | 2024 (est.) |
| Plant Hydraulic Head: | 159.26m (522.51feet) |
| Plant Turbines: | 8 x 112.5 MW Francis-type |
| Plant Capacity: | 900 MW |
| Res Surface: | 1.96 km² |
The Upper Karnali Storage Hydropower Project is a proposed run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant on the Karnali river in Nepal. It will have an installed capacity of 900 MW, making it the largest hydropower plant in Nepal when achieved.[1] However, most of the generated power is set to be exported to both Bangladesh (about 500 MW) and India (another 292 MW), via a 400 kV double circuit transmission line, with the only remaining 108 MW of total power dedicated to local consumption.[2]
First planned in the 1990s as a smaller-scale 240 MW facility, the current 900 MW design was approved in 2008. A much larger 4,180 MW generation eventuality was identified on the same site during the feasibility studies, but this option was not selected.[3] As of February 2020, the Power Purchase Agreement was hoped to be signed within 3 months, which might give a boost to the long-delayed project.[4]
The expected cost of the dam is $1.5 Billion, partly funded by the Asian Development Bank, and its construction should employ an estimated 3,000 workers during 5 years.