Panchakanya Mai Hydropower Resumes Power Generation After Weather Damage

10th October 2025, Kathmandu

Panchakanya Mai Hydropower Limited (PMHL), a key independent power producer in Nepal, has officially announced the successful resumption of electricity generation from its Mai C Hydropower Project in the Ilam district.

Panchakanya Mai Hydropower Resumes

This swift restoration follows a temporary shutdown earlier this month caused by the relentless monsoon rains and subsequent infrastructural damage. The company’s rapid response highlights its operational resilience and the growing preparedness of Nepal’s private hydropower sector to manage climate-induced operational interruptions.

The Mai C Hydroelectric Project, formally known as the Upper Mai C Hydroelectric Project (UMCHEP), holds an installed capacity of 6.1 MW (with a Power Purchase Agreement capacity of 5.1 MW). Its immediate return to service is crucial for maintaining stability within the national grid, especially in the Eastern region, which frequently bears the brunt of heavy seasonal rainfall.

Engineering Excellence Drives Round-the-Clock Restoration

According to Company Secretary Prakash Bista, the suspension of operations at Mai C was necessitated by infrastructural damage, a common occurrence during the peak monsoon season, which primarily involved heavy debris blockage, scouring, and sedimentation within the project’s waterway and headworks systems. This type of damage requires immediate and specialized technical intervention to clear water flow paths and check for structural integrity issues.

“Our engineers and field staff have worked continuously day and night without interruption despite adverse weather conditions,” Bista stated. “The technical teams focused heavily on de-silting the settling basin and ensuring the headrace systems were clear of large debris and sediment loads. We are pleased to announce that power generation from the Mai C project has resumed this morning.”

The ability of PMHL’s teams to mobilize quickly and implement round-the-clock repair efforts is a testament to the enhanced maintenance readiness and technical preparedness that the company and the broader Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) have been prioritizing.

Upper Mai Project Nears Full Operational Capacity

The challenges were not limited to Mai C. Panchakanya Mai Hydropower’s other significant asset, the Upper Mai Hydropower Project (UMHEP), which has a larger installed capacity of 12 MW (PPA capacity of 9.98 MW), also sustained damage. Damage reports indicate minor structural impacts and significant debris blockage in the waterway systems, typical for run-of-the-river (RoR) projects in Nepal’s rugged topography.

Repair and maintenance work at the Upper Mai facility is already underway. Company officials have optimistically projected that the plant will be fully operational and reconnect to the grid within the next two days. Once Upper Mai resumes generation, PMHL will be operating at its full capacity in the Mai corridor, collectively contributing approximately 16.1 MW of clean energy back to the national grid.

This swift, coordinated restoration of both cascade projects, Mai C being a downstream project utilizing water flow, is a strong indicator of the company’s structured response system, which minimizes the downtime and consequential revenue loss resulting from predictable weather events.

Mitigating Climate Vulnerability: The Industry’s New Focus

The frequent disruptions faced by projects in the Ilam district, which is a major hub for hydropower development, underscore the high vulnerability of Nepal’s energy infrastructure to climate-induced hazards. The recent heavy rains have impacted dozens of hydropower projects across the country, primarily through:

• Landslides and Access Road Damage: Blocking transportation and access for repair crews.
• Heavy Sedimentation: Clogging the intake and de-silting basins, halting water flow to the turbines.
• Scouring and Structural Damage: Caused by high-velocity floodwaters impacting weirs and powerhouses.

PMHL’s recovery story serves as a crucial case study in climate-resilient engineering and operational strategy. The company’s continued focus is on:

Strategic Focus Area Impact on Resilience

Strengthening Infrastructure Resilience Adopting over-design options and using stronger materials for headworks and retaining walls to withstand higher flood peaks and sediment loads.
Enhancing Maintenance Readiness Maintaining dedicated, rapid-response technical teams and ensuring a supply of critical spare parts locally to accelerate repair timelines.
Prioritizing Worker Safety & ESG Implementing advanced early-warning systems for flood and landslide monitoring, ensuring no human casualties during disaster events.

Panchakanya Mai: A Pillar of Nepal’s Private Power Sector

Panchakanya Mai Hydropower Limited stands as a testament to the capabilities of Nepal’s private sector in developing reliable and sustainable energy sources. Operating in the Mai River corridor, the company is not only dedicated to energy security but also promotes economic activity and community collaboration in the Ilam region.

The company’s ability to bring the Mai C project back online so quickly strengthens confidence among investors and stakeholders, assuring them of the project’s robust engineering and sound management. As the nation targets ambitious clean energy goals, the continuous and quick return to operation of essential facilities like Mai C and Upper Mai is vital for maintaining national grid consistency and supporting Nepal’s clean-energy transition.

The quick restoration work affirms PMHL’s commitment to its long-term mission of powering progress in Nepal, even in the face of escalating weather volatility, ensuring that temporary disruptions do not compromise the nation’s overall clean energy momentum.

For updates on the Upper Mai Project’s resumption and other company news, stakeholders are encouraged to monitor official channels.

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