Key Highlights
- Large‑scale storage hydropower plant slated to produce roughly 6,870 million kWh annually.
- 216‑metre concrete gravity dam coupled with an underground powerhouse will also function as flood‑control infrastructure for the Brahmaputra basin.
- Project financed under a BOOT scheme, with NHPC holding 74% equity and the state government 26%.
- Estimated outlay of ₹26,070 crore, featuring a 70:30 debt‑to‑equity split and central grants for infrastructure and flood mitigation.
- Creation of ~300 permanent positions and 2,500 contract jobs during peak construction, while bolstering grid stability in Northeast India.
Detailed Insights
The Kamala Hydroelectric Project, previously identified as the Subansiri Middle scheme, is situated on the Kamala River traversing the districts of Kamle, Kra Daadi, and Kurung Kumey in Arunachal Pradesh. Designed as a storage‑type plant, it integrates a massive reservoir that not only generates electricity but also modulates river discharge, thereby attenuating the seasonal flooding that regularly inundates the Brahmaputra Valley.
At the heart of the installation stands a 216‑metre‑tall concrete gravity dam, feeding water to an underground power house equipped with turbines capable of delivering a combined installed capacity of 1,720 MW. Construction is projected to conclude within eight years (96 months), after which the facility will feed upwards of 6,870 million units of renewable electricity into both regional and national grids, reinforcing supply adequacy across the Northeast.
Financially, the venture adheres to a Build‑Own‑Operate‑Transfer (BOOT) model. NHPC, the central public sector undertaking, will command a 74 % stake, while the Government of Arunachal Pradesh retains the remaining 26 %. The central government has earmarked ₹1,340 crore for ancillary infrastructure and ₹4,744 crore specifically for flood‑moderation components; the state will offset GST liabilities. The anticipated levelised tariff stands at ₹5.97 per kilowatt‑hour.
Beyond power generation, the project promises socioeconomic upliftment through direct employment of roughly 300 engineers, technicians, and administrators, and the creation of about 2,500 contract labour positions during the peak construction phase. Ancillary benefits include enhanced road connectivity, improved local infrastructure, and a more resilient electricity grid, all of which are pivotal to India’s pledge of attaining net‑zero emissions by 2070.
Key Concepts
- Storage‑Based Hydropower: A hydroelectric system that employs a reservoir to store water, enabling generation on demand and facilitating flood regulation.
- BOOT Model (Build‑Own‑Operate‑Transfer): A project delivery framework where a private or public entity constructs, owns, and runs an infrastructure asset for a defined period before transferring ownership to the government.
- Levelised Tariff: The average price per unit of electricity over the plant’s lifetime, reflecting all costs including construction, operation, and financing.
- Flood Moderation: Engineering measures, often integrated with reservoirs, designed to attenuate peak river flows and reduce downstream flood risk.
- Net‑Zero Emissions Goal: An overarching national commitment to balance anthropogenic greenhouse‑gas emissions with removal, aiming for net zero by the year 2070.