Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Projectकुलेखानी-३
A 14 MW NEA plant in Makwanpur that reuses the tailwater discharged by Kulekhani II, completing the Kulekhani cascade. With two 7 MW Francis units, it began trial generation in October 2019 after more than a decade in development.
Installed capacity
14 MW
Run-of-river
River / basin
Kulekhani (Rapti)
Bagmati basin
Location
Makwanpur
Bagmati
Commissioned
2019
Operational
Milestones to commissioning
The route from construction to commercial operation.
- 2008
Construction began
- 2 Oct 2019
First 7 MW unit entered test operation
- 11 Oct 2019
Second 7 MW unit entered test operation
Location
Approximate dam-area location on OpenStreetMap — precise to the district and river reach, not the exact structure.
Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project: key facts
Quick answers on capacity, river, developer, status and commissioning, drawn from the sourced data above.
What is the capacity of the Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project?+
The Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project has an installed capacity of 14 MW. It is a run-of-river hydropower scheme.
Which river is the Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project on?+
The project is on the Kulekhani (Rapti) River, part of Nepal's Bagmati basin, in Makwanpur district, Bagmati Province.
Who is developing the Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project?+
The Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project is developed by Nepal Electricity Authority (government (nea)).
What is the status of the Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project?+
As of mid-2026 the project is operational.
When was the Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project commissioned?+
The Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project was commissioned in 2019.
Sources & data note
Figures for Kulekhani III Hydroelectric Project are compiled from the sources below and cross-checked where possible. Status and projected dates reflect research as of mid-2026 and may change as the project progresses. The map location is an approximate dam-area estimate. Commentary is Amarnepal's own.