Progress status of the project related to different aspects of the project development and implementation at the time of preparation of this report is described below:
Studies and Design
All necessary studies including EIA for the project, IEE for the transmission line, feasibility study and revised feasibility study (including topographical survey, hydrology, geological and geotechnical investigations, geophysical investigations, Rock core drilling etc.), due diligence study, detailed design and tender document preparation have already been carried out.
Bidding and procurement
Breakdown of Procurement Contracts packages and bidding/negotiations processes with their present status are given below:
Table Summary of the signed Contracts
| S. N. | Name of Contract Package | Contractor | Agreement Date | Progress status |
| 1 | Contract Agreement for Explosive Supply and Security Management of Upper Tamor Hydropower Project (285 MW) | Ekikrit Byapar Company Pvt. Ltd., Buddhanagar, Kathmandu M. C. -10, Kathmandu, Nepal | 16 Bhadra 2079 (1 Sep 2022) | The Contractor’s work for supply and management of explosive is continuous |
| 2 | Design, Supply and Erection of Site Buildings for Upper Tamor Hydropower Project (285 MW) | Rhythm and Remash/ Silauti Eco Homes JV, Tangal-05, Kathmandu | 2 Jestha 2080 (16 May 2023) | Employers camp construction at Headworks is ongoing. |
| 3 | Contract Agreement for Site Building Civil Works of Upper Tamor Hydropower Project | Fewa Construction Pvt. Ltd., Pokhara-6, Kaski | 18 Mangsir 2080 (4 Dec 2023) | Construction of camp for Headworks staff ongoing. |
| 4 | Contract Agreement for Design, Manufacture, Supply, Transportation and Installation of Bailey Bridge | Machhapuchhre Engineering Private Limited, Pokhara Industrial Estate, Pokhara -10, Kaski, Nepal | 8 Magh 2080 (22 Jan 2024) | |
| 5 | Construction of Main Civil Works (Lot-2), Part A: Main Access Tunnel and Tailrace Tunnel | Fewa Construction Pvt. Ltd., Pokhara-6, Kaski | 10 Bhadra 2080 (27 Aug 2023) | Excavation works ongoing |
| 6 | Construction Power Facilities Contract, for extension/construction of Construction Power Line from Middle Tamor Hydropower Project/Plant Powerhouse to Upper Tamor Hydropower Project Site up to surge shaft area | Samrat Construction, Lahan, Siraha | 22 Chaitra 2080 (4 April 2024) | Erection of Tubular poles is ongoing. |
| 7 | Contract Agreement for Design, Manufacture, Supply, Transportation and Installation of Bailey Bridge | Machhapuchhre Engineering Private Limited, Pokhara Industrial Estate, Pokhara -10, Kaski, Nepal | 3 Mangsir 2081 (18 November 2024) | |
| 8. | Contract Agreement for the Construction of Main Civil Works (Lot-2) Part T: Headrace Tunnel using TBM | China Railway No. 2 Engineering Group Co. Ltd, China | 21 Chaitra 2081 (3 April 2025) | Initial preparation works from both Employer and Contractor is ongoing |
| 9. | Contract Agreement for the EM equipment (Lot-4) | Dongfang Electric International Corporation (DEC International), Chengdu, P.R. China | 29 Chaitra 2081 (11 April 2025) | |
| 10. | Construction of Main Civil Works (Lot-2), Part P: Headworks, Surge Shaft, Powerhouse and Auxiliary Tunnels | Fewa Construction Pvt. Ltd., Pokhara-6, Kaski | 29 Chaitra 2081 (11 April 2025) |
Access Road
The Mulghat – Dovan – Olangchunggola Road is an under-construction project by the Government of Nepal. The Department of Roads has contracted several contractors to upgrade the road to gravel standard. This road will serve as the main access route from Phungling Municipality area (Lahare village) of the Tamor Corridor Highway which is also connected by a road to Mechi Highway at Bahanande village. Recently, widening of access road from Bahanande up to Thiwa (about 7 Km upstream of Mitlung, Powerhouse Quarter area) has been almost completed. At various chainages, along with widening; leveling, construction of retaining structures, side drains, causeways construction works have also been carried out by the Tamor Corridor Road Project. The Contractor has commenced road compaction using graders and rollers at different sections. Furthermore, well graded river bed materials, gravel placement and compaction have been done at Lahare Gaun area to meet the gravel road standards set by the Department of Road, Government of Nepal. Some photographs of the Tamor Corridor Road Construction Works being carried out within the project area and or leading to the project area are presented below:
TEPL has been managing out repair and maintenance of the Tamor Corridor Road within the project area to make transport of materials and manpower to the project area even during monsoon period. Similarly, upgradation of the road section from Thiwa village to Tapethok village has also been managed by TEPL.
The upgradation of the access road from the powerhouse to the headworks is currently in progress. The work includes road extension, strengthening, and upgrading, along with the construction of side drains, retaining structures, leveling, and base improvement to meet the requirements for the construction and operation of various project components.
Additionally, the UTHP design team has issued the construction drawings for the access road from the powerhouse to the surge shaft. The construction of this road is ongoing.
Bailey Bridge
TEPL has contracted Machhapuchhre Engineering Private Limited for the design, manufacture, supply, transportation, and installation of Bailey bridges at Tapethok, Sisne Khola, and Menthuma Khola.
The steel components for the Bailey bridge to be installed over the Tamor Khola at Tapethok, near the proposed headpond of the UTHP, have been designed, fabricated, and delivered to the site. Excavation for the bridge foundation at Tapethok has already begun. Meanwhile, at Sisne Khola, civil construction work is progressing on both the right and left bank piers of the Bailey bridge.
Construction of Main Access Tunnel and Tailrace Tunnel
Fewa Construction Pvt. Ltd. has been appointed as civil contractor for the construction of Main access tunnel and Tailrace tunnel, as part of main civil works. The contractor has already started its works at site. Currently, five technical and administrative staff are present at site. Similarly, forty-three personnel from Fewa Construction Pvt. Ltd. are working in the project area.
Following the mobilization of the contractor, the diversion of the Tamor Corridor Road, site clearance at the portal face, and necessary stabilization of the portals for both the Main Access Tunnel and Tailrace Tunnel have been completed. Additionally, boulder lining along the riverbank near the Tailrace Tunnel/Culvert outlet has been finished. As of the end of April 2025, a total of 14.6 meters has been excavated from the Tailrace Tunnel out of its total length of 1182.566 meters, and 5.5 meters has been excavated from the Main Access Tunnel out of its total length of 743.319 meters. Excavation work is ongoing at both tunnel sites leading to the powerhouse.
Preparatory works for TBM construction
Preparatory works for TBM construction have commenced at the site. A team has been mobilized to carry out survey activities and undertake landscaping for camp facilities and the segment yard.
Civil works for Batching Plant Installation
For Batching plant installation, layout has already been completed. As of 27th May 2025, Foundation works are underway, and partial column erection has already been carried out. The remaining foundation activities are progressing well and are expected to be completed soon.
Camp facilities
The construction of the camp facilities in the Powerhouse area (Mitlung camp) has been completed with construction of 7 buildings in the Employer’s camp area and 2 staff quarters, workshop, store, labour camp in the Contractor’s (Fewa Construction Pvt. Ltd.) camp area.
Construction of staff camps in the headworks area near Tapethok football ground is currently underway.
Construction Power
The nearest electrical power supply source for UTHP Project area is Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA) Hiti Sub-station near Phungling Bazaar, Taplejung. A 17 km long 33 kV construction power line has already been built from Hiti substation to Sanima Middle Tamor Powerhouse area by Sanima Middle Tamor Hydropower Ltd (SMTHPL). An understanding has already been reached between the TEPL and SMTHPL for use of already constructed transmission line on cost sharing basis. For the project, it needs to be constructed an additional about 20 km long 33 kV power line upstream from the Middle Tamor Powerhouse area to the headworks area (Tapethok).
A contract was signed with Samrat Construction on 22 Chaitra 2080 for the construction power line works. As part of the contract, the contractor is also responsible for extending approximately 5 km of the 33 kV line from Sisne (UTHP powerhouse area) to the Surge Shaft area/Possible TBM launching platform at Thauwa.
The delivery and erection of tubular poles for the construction power line are currently in progress.
Power Evacuation
The power generated from the Upper Tamor Hydropower Project (UTHP) will be evacuated to NEA’s Dhungesanghu Substation (220 kV Busbar) through a 220 kV transmission line. This will involve constructing a 220 kV transmission line from UTHP’s switchyard to the Middle Tamor Hydropower Project (MTHP) switchyard and then utilizing MTHP’s existing transmission line on a sharing basis for evacuation to NEA’s substation. TPEL has applied for the Generation License for the transmission line from UTHP’s switchyard to MTHP’s switchyard at the Department of Electricity Development (DoED).
Furthermore, on 28th January 2025 (15th Magh 2081), the developers of the Tamor Khola-5 Hydropower Project (46.9 MW), Upper Tamor Hydropower Project (285 MW), and Middle Tamor Hydropower Project (73 MW) entered into a tri-party agreement to evacuate the electricity generated from their respective projects to NEA’s Dhungesanghu Substation. This agreement is based on a cost-sharing model for the construction of the transmission line.
SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS MITIGATIONS
TEPL is committed to carry out the socio-environmental mitigations work as prescribed by the approved EIA Report including the SEMP. For this, TEPL has agreed in principle with concerned authorities of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality and Kanchanjungha Conservation Area Project (KCAP) on modality of using the project’s budget allocated for the mitigations works.
Further plan
Tamor Energy PVt. Ltd has planned to complete all work (Civil, HM, EM and TL works) of Upper Tamor Hydropower Project within 42 months.