Pharping Hydro power

Pharping Hydropower

The History of using hydropower as a potential source of energy was first recorded during the Han Dynasty of China between the period of 202 BC and 9 AD. Its use was limited to mill grain, pound mineral ore, and pulp paper products.

In the late 19th Century, Hydropower was used in harnessing electricity. After James Francis, a British American engineer developed the first modern water turbine. In 1882, the first hydropower plant began operating in the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. In Britain, Hydropower was used for harnessing electricity in 1878. 

During Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher's visit to Britain in 1907 (BS 1964), he was fascinated with electricity. He wanted to bring hydropower technology to Nepal. For this, a committee was formed under Col. Kishor Narasingh Rana. The committee selected pharping as the site for construction. Later Mr. Barnau Puwante from Britain took the work further. Also another engineer Mr. Linzale assisted in the installment of equipment. It took only 20 months and 15 days for the overall construction and total cost of 7 lakh 13 thousand 2 hundred 73 rupees to complete the construction.

By doing so the first Hydropower plant was established in Nepal at Pharping (500 kW) in 1911. The power plant was called Chandrajyoti Hydro-Electric Power Station then and inaugurated by the late King Prithivi Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The electricity was not available to the general public but only to the ruling class members and industries established at that period. 

The Pharping hydropower is the First hydropower established in Nepal and second in Asia after Sidrapong Power Station (500 KW) commissioned in 1897 in Darjeeling. Whereas in China, the first hydropower plant was established in 1912. 

Looking at the history of Hydropower in Nepal, it had the advantage of starting early but it has not been able to take a good leap ahead. Various reasons can be blamed for it; to name some, more than a decade long Maoist insurgency in Nepal, corruption and political instability, lack of national electricity act, and policy to name the some. 

For 60 years the plant provided electricity and later as water from the reservoir was used for consumption purposes in Kathmandu. Later in 2006 it was repaired and is synchronized with the integrated Nepal power system. In 2010, the Plant has been opened to the public and declared a Living Museum.