Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company Limited has confirmed that its Sanjen Hydropower Project and Upper Sanjen Hydropower Project have not suffered any physical damage from the massive flood in the Bhotekoshi River corridor of Rasuwa.

The company said the sudden flood entered Nepal through Rasuwagadhi from the Tibet region of China on Bhadra 10, 2083, causing extensive damage to hydropower infrastructure, transmission lines and substations in the area.

Although the two Sanjen hydropower plants remained physically intact, both projects were forced to suspend electricity generation because the power they produce could not be evacuated to the national grid.

According to the company, the shutdown was caused by damage to the Trishuli 3B Hub and the Chilime–Trishuli 220 kV transmission line, rather than any damage to the hydropower plants themselves.

The damage to the electricity evacuation infrastructure has disrupted power transmission from the affected area, preventing the Sanjen and Upper Sanjen projects from delivering electricity to the national grid.

Sanjen Jalavidhyut Company has therefore clarified that the temporary closure of the two projects is due to power evacuation problems, and not flood damage to their physical structures.

The company issued the clarification amid widespread reports of damage to hydropower projects and electricity infrastructure following the major flood in the Bhotekoshi River area.

The plants are expected to remain affected until the damaged transmission and power evacuation infrastructure is restored, allowing electricity generated by the projects to be transmitted to the national grid.