At 15:45 Nepal Standard Time on November 1, 2025, the Manang Marsyangdi Hydropower Project (135 MW) in Nepal—jointly developed by Sichuan Energy Development Group, Butwal Power Company of Nepal, Chengdu Xingcheng Investment Group Co., Ltd., and Sichuan Qingyuan Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd.—successfully completed river diversion and closure.The successful achievement of this critical milestone marks the official commencement of main dam construction, significantly accelerating overall project progress and ushering in a key phase of implementation. This accomplishment not only represents a major engineering milestone but also stands as a landmark achievement in the cascade development of the Marsyangdi River basin.

Since the adjustment work of the preliminary cascade planning was initiated, the project has undergone eight years of arduous efforts, successively overcoming challenges such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, major floods, complex geological conditions, and multiple external uncertainties. The project team of Sichuan Qingyuan Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd., in close collaboration with all participating units, has been deeply integrated and continuously on-site to closely monitor the project. Combining the actual engineering conditions, the team has successively completed multiple design optimizations and adjustments, effectively ensuring the smooth implementation of key nodes such as road accessibility, initial excavation, open channel construction, and cofferdam work, laying a solid foundation for the successful diversion and cutoff.

Sichuan Qingyuan Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd. has always adhered to the core principle of “leveraging technology to drive investment and safeguarding projects through responsibility,” fully ensuring the safety, quality, and investment returns of the project. The company will continue to advance hand in hand with all partners, upholding professionalism and fulfilling its responsibilities to guarantee the safe, high-quality, and efficient progress of construction. Qingyuan is committed to supporting the timely commissioning of the project and delivering a benchmark hydropower facility that is green, efficient, and sustainable.

Overview of the Marsyangdi Cascade Hydropower Project

The Marsyangdi Cascade Hydropower Project is a key demonstration project under Sichuan Province’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and a priority project in China-Nepal power cooperation. Located in the Gandaki region of western Nepal, the project comprises three hydropower stations arranged in cascade from upstream to downstream:

　　(1) Manang Marsyangdi Hydropower Station (135 MW)

　　(2) Lower Manang Marsyangdi Hydropower Station (135 MW)

　　(3) Upper Marsyangdi-2 Hydropower Station (approximately 327 MW)

The cascade project has a total installed capacity of approximately 600 megawatts (MW) and adopts a diversion-type development approach. With a total investment of approximately USD 1.2 billion, the project is implemented under the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model. The development, construction, and operational period spans 35 years, with implementation carried out in phases and according to a staged timeline.

Among the cascade, the Manang Marsyangdi Hydropower Station serves as the uppermost (first-stage) power station. Classified as a Class III medium-sized diversion-type project, it has an installed capacity of 135 megawatts (MW) and a total investment of approximately USD 322 million, with a planned construction period of 42 months.

The project consists of three main components:the headworks complex (including intake and dam),the water diversion system, and the powerhouse complex.

Upon completion, the station is expected to generate an average annual output of approximately 712 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), providing critical support to power supply in western Nepal and driving regional economic development.