Budhi Gandaki,
Nepal
A two-stage cascade on the Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha District, about 140 km by road from Kathmandu. Both stages hold generation licenses and signed PPAs.
- Contracted under PPA · 390 MW licensed
- 329.4MW
- Average annual generation
- 1,828GWh
- Of output in the dry season
- >30%
- PPAs signed for both projects
- Take-or-pay
01 — Why these projects
Three features stand out: high utilization, a large share of dry-season output and long-term take-or-pay PPAs.
5,400+ hours
Design utilization of 5,592 hours (KHA) and 5,454 hours (KA), higher than any plant in our current fleet.
Dry-season generation
Daily regulation lets both plants concentrate output in peak hours, and by design more than 30% of their annual energy comes in the dry months.
Long-term PPAs
Take-or-pay power purchase agreements signed with the Nepal Electricity Authority in April 2024, running 30 years from commercial operation.
- BUDHI GANDAKI KA + KHAGorkha · 329.4 MW hydro
Technical profile
02 — The projects
| BUDHI GANDAKI KHA226 MW | BUDHI GANDAKI KA103.4 MW | |
|---|---|---|
| Cascade position | Downstream | Upstream |
| Licensed capacity | 260 MW | 130 MW |
| Of which under take-or-pay PPA | 226 MW | 103.4 MW |
| Location | Gorkha, Gandaki Province | Gorkha, Gandaki Province |
| Units | 3 × 75.3 MW Francis | 2 × 51.7 MW Francis |
| Dam type | Concrete gravity | Concrete gravity |
| Dam height × crest length | 37 m × 282 m | 50 m × 130.5 m |
| Regulation | Daily · pondage for ≥ 5.5 h of peaking | Daily · pondage for ≥ 5 h of peaking |
| Headrace tunnel | 8.49 km | 3.72 km |
| Design discharge | 135 m³/s | 134 m³/s |
| Rated head | 195 m | 89 m |
| Average annual generation (PPA) | 1,264 GWh | 564 GWh |
| Annual utilization | 5,592 h | 5,454 h |
| Dry-season share of output | > 30% | > 30% |
| Offtaker · term | NEA · 30 years from COD | NEA · 30 years from COD |
Licensed and PPA capacities are contractual. Generation, utilization, dam dimensions and target dates are from the feasibility study, which is being finalized, and may change.
03 — Path to operation
Where the projects stand today.
- Completed:
EIA approval
Both projects
- Completed:
Grid connection agreement
Signed; 220 kV transmission route approved 2025
- Completed:
Generation licenses
KHA 260 MW · KA 130 MW
- Completed:
PPAs signed
With NEA · 329.4 MW take-or-pay
- Completed:
Design institute
PowerChina Kunming Engineering Corporation
- Target:
Feasibility study completion
Target · KHA Nov 2026, KA May 2027
- Target:
Construction start
Target · EPC tender Jan 2027
- Target: Date TBA
Commercial operation
KHA and KA
Targets as of October 2026.
04 — Environment & community
Managing environmental and social impact
Impact assessment
Environmental impact assessments approved in 2013.
Land and resettlement
Project land is predominantly state-owned; land acquisition and limited resettlement are under way.
For investors