Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) invites applications for pre-qualification for civil construction of the 30-MW Rahughat hydroelectric project on Nepal’s Rahughat River. Responses are due July 2, 2009.

Rahughat is one of four run-of-river projects that Nepal Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai last year said would begin construction. (HydroWorld 9/26/08) The new republic of Nepal established as a priority the development of 10,000 MW of new hydropower in the next 10 years.

NEA said it received a credit from the Export-Import Bank of India toward the cost of the hydro project. It plans to pre-qualify Indian contractors or consortia of India and Nepal firms to perform all project civil works under a single contract.

Work is to include a 15-meter-tall, 29-meter-long concrete gravity diversion dam; intake, settling basins; headrace tunnel; surge shaft; inclined pressure shaft; pressure tunnel; surface powerhouse; switchyard; tailrace; access roads; and supporting facilities.

Pre-qualification documents in English may be obtained until July 1 from the address below for 25,000 Nepal rupees or US$313 by cash deposit to Account No. 49251, Bank of Kathmandu, Kamaladi in favor of RGHEP/NEA. The pre-qualification invitation may be obtained from the NEA Internet site at www.nea.org.np.

Applications for pre-qualification are due by 1 p.m. July 2. for information, contact Project Director, Rahughat Hydroelectric Project, Project Development Department, Engineering Services, NEA, Post Box No. 12011, Kathmandu, Nepal; (977) 1-4248851; Fax: (977) 1-4223966; Internet: www.nea.org.np.