---
title: "Top producers and early plants of Nepal"
subject: "Hydropower Engineering"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_7/hydropower_engineering:hydropower-history-nepal-world"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/hydropower_engineering/hydropower-history-nepal-world
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Top producers and early plants of Nepal

Hydropower Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: 2078 Bhadra, 4 marks
- Video: [नेपालको १० सबै भन्दा ठुलो जलबिद्धुत आयोजनाहरु | Hydropower in nepal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-p5yAhdlGg) — The Stony
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/hydropower_engineering/hydropower-history-nepal-world
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/hydropower_engineering/chapter-1

## Question

Answer the following: (i) What are the top three hydropower producing countries in the world till 2020? (ii) What are the three existing largest power plants in Nepal (with capacity)? (iii) What are the first three hydropower plants (capacity and year) in the history of Nepal?

## Short answer

Top three countries by installed capacity: China (~370 GW), Brazil (~109 GW), USA (~103 GW). Largest Nepali plants: Upper Tamakoshi (456 MW), Kaligandaki A (144 MW), Middle Marsyangdi (70 MW). First plants: Pharping 500 kW (1911), Sundarijal 640 kW (1936), Panauti 2.4 MW (1965).

## Answer

#### (i) Top three hydropower producing countries (till 2020)
By installed capacity and generation, the leaders are:
1. **China** - about 370 GW (largest, with the Three Gorges 22.5 GW)
2. **Brazil** - about 109 GW (Itaipu, shared with Paraguay)
3. **USA** - about 103 GW

(Canada, about 82 GW, is a close fourth and is second-ranked in some lists by generation.)

#### (ii) Three largest existing power plants in Nepal
| Plant | Capacity | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Tamakoshi (commissioned 2021) | 456 MW | Peaking RoR |
| Kaligandaki A | 144 MW | Peaking RoR |
| Middle Marsyangdi | 70 MW | Peaking RoR |

Before Upper Tamakoshi (up to 2020), the three largest were Kaligandaki A (144 MW), Middle Marsyangdi (70 MW) and Marsyangdi (69 MW). Kulekhani I (60 MW) is the only large storage plant.

#### (iii) First three hydropower plants of Nepal
| Plant | Capacity | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Pharping | 500 kW | 1911 AD (1968 BS) |
| Sundarijal | 640 kW | 1936 AD (1993 BS) |
| Panauti | 2.4 MW | 1965 AD (2022 BS) |

Pharping was the first plant in Nepal and one of the first in South Asia. Fewa (1 MW, 1969) and Trishuli (21 MW, 1967) followed later.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which was the first hydropower plant in Nepal?
   A. Trishuli 21 MW, 1967
   B. Panauti 2.4 MW, 1965
   C. Pharping 500 kW, 1911
   D. Sundarijal 640 kW, 1936
   Answer: C. Pharping (500 kW, 1911 AD) was first. (Key point: First plant)

2. Which are the top three hydropower countries till 2020?
   A. Brazil, India, China
   B. China, Russia, Norway
   C. China, Brazil, USA
   D. USA, Canada, China
   Answer: C. China about 370 GW, Brazil 109 GW, USA 103 GW. (Key point: Top producers)

3. Which is the largest existing plant in Nepal now?
   A. Kaligandaki A
   B. Upper Tamakoshi 456 MW
   C. Kulekhani I
   D. Middle Marsyangdi
   Answer: B. Upper Tamakoshi (456 MW) since 2021. (Key point: Largest plant)

4. Which is the only large storage plant mentioned?
   A. Pharping
   B. Marsyangdi
   C. Trishuli
   D. Kulekhani I (60 MW)
   Answer: D. Kulekhani I is the only large storage plant. (Key point: Storage)

## Related in Hydropower Engineering

- [Types of hydropower plants by head, turbine, load](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Ahydropower-plant-types-classification) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2
- [Avoiding load shedding and approach to 2020](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Aload-shedding-approach-2020) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 1
- [Institutions in Nepal's hydropower sector](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Ainstitutional-setup-hydropower) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [Importance of hydropower development in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Aimportance-hydropower-nepal) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 1
- [Working principle of RoR, PRoR and ST plants](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Aror-pror-storage-working-principle) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2
- [Installed capacity, energy and daily peaking reservoir (2079)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Aror-capacity-plant-factor-18cumec-peaking-79) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 3, asked 2×

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