The 132 kV Keraun Substation in Kanepokhari Rural Municipality-2, Morang, began operation on Sunday, November 1, after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) connected and charged it through the existing East-West 132 kV transmission network.
The authority expects it to improve electricity supply and reduce frequent interruptions in northern and southeastern Morang.
The substation was connected to the Duhabi-Damak section of the transmission line through a loop-in, loop-out arrangement, in which the existing line is routed into the new substation and then continues onwards. It is expected to benefit Kanepokhari, Rangeli, Biratchok, Letang and adjoining areas.
Commissioning is not full delivery
The substation itself is operating, but its two 33 kV lines and five 11 kV feeder lines are still awaiting charging, with the 33 kV lines expected to be charged before Tihar.
Technical capacity
The substation has three transformers with a combined capacity of 148.5 MVA: two 132/33 kV units of 63 MVA each and one 33/11 kV unit of 22.5 MVA.
It steps electricity down from 132 kV to 33 kV, and then to 11 kV for local distribution.
The project includes two 33 kV double-circuit lines, Keraun-Rangeli at 13.67 km and Keraun-Biratchok at 20.94 km, totalling 34.61 km, and five 11 kV feeders.
Why it was needed
Parts of the area have been supplied through the roughly 50-km Duhabi-Rani-Rangeli 33 kV line. Long distribution lines can cause voltage drops, frequent tripping and higher technical losses. Bringing the supply point closer is expected to ease these problems.
Cost and financing
The project costs about Rs 1 billion, financed by the Government of Nepal, the NEA and a concessional Asian Development Bank loan. It forms part of the Electricity Grid Modernization Project, whose ADB financing is a $156 million programme loan plus $60 million in additional financing for the wider national programme, not the cost of Keraun alone.
The NEA’s 2024/25 annual report names Energypac Engineering Ltd. of Bangladesh and SR Associates Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. of India as contractors for the substation and associated 33 kV lines.
Delays
The construction contract was signed on June 11, 2021, and became effective on August 10, 2021. The annual report gave September 30, 2025, as the contractual deadline, and a July 2025 progress update expected completion by November 2025. Operation began about 13 months after the deadline.
