Kali Gandaki A — ADB Performance Evaluation & Wikipedia

Summary

Reference compilation for the 144 MW Kali Gandaki A plant at Mirmi, Syangja — combining the ADB's post-project performance evaluation (the plant was ADB/JBIC co-financed) with the Wikipedia-aggregated operational history and the recent NEA rehabilitation tender.

Key Data Points

Installed: 144 MW (3 × 48 MW Toshiba Francis units)
Gross head: 115 m
Design annual energy: ~860 GWh
Average actual output: ~592 GWh/year since commissioning
Construction: 1997–2002; turbines commissioned Mar / Apr / May 2002
Total cost: USD 354.8 million (~NPR 50 billion at the time)
Funding: ADB + Japan Bank for International Cooperation
Owner/operator: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)
Location: Mirmi, Syangja District; Kali Gandaki–Andhikhola confluence
Status (2024): Nepal sought design & supervision consultants for a rehabilitation of the three-unit plant

Relevance to Project

Primary source for Kali Gandaki A's capacity, head, generation, funding stack and rehabilitation posture. Useful benchmark for Nepali- developed, Nepali-dispatched hydro at moderate scale — the foil to India-developed export projects like Arun 3 and Upper Karnali.

What This Source Does Not Cover

Current reservoir (pondage) operation strategy
Full seasonal generation shape
Detailed explanation of the >250 GWh gap between design energy (~~860 GWh) and average actual output (~~592 GWh)

Limitations

Compilation, not primary field data. Combines ADB post-project evaluation, Wikipedia operational history, and Renewable Energy World reporting — different levels of rigor across sources.
Design-vs-actual gap unresolved. The >250 GWh/year shortfall between design (~~860 GWh) and average actual output (~~592 GWh) is documented but not diagnostically explained.
Rehabilitation snapshot only. Covers the 2024 rehabilitation tender announcement but not the subsequent procurement, contractor selection, or scope finalization.