The project involved the design, supply, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of GIS Bay Extension Works at Kaligandaki ‘A’ Hydropower Station for Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), KGARD. The primary facility under the contract was a 145 kV GIS Bay module, forming part of the high voltage infrastructure at the hydropower station.

The contractual execution covered design engineering, manufacturing, supply, installation, factory testing, transportation to site, site testing, commissioning, trial operation and taking over of the facilities. In addition to the GIS equipment, the works involved associated Control and Relay Panel activities, numerical relay protection functions, GPS-based time synchronization and integration with the existing SCADA environment.

MSI executed the project as an integrated high voltage systems assignment requiring coordination between the new GIS bay and the existing protection, control and monitoring infrastructure at the station. The GIS underwent no-load energization, CRP panel testing and commissioning were completed, and numerical relay overvoltage protection functions were configured, verified and witnessed. Nepal Electricity Authority subsequently issued a Substantial Work Completion Certificate effective 30 March 2026, while identifying energy meter configuration and remaining SCADA integration as minor outstanding works.

Objectives

The project was designed to achieve the following goals:

• To extend the existing GIS infrastructure at Kaligandaki ‘A’ Hydropower Station through a 145 kV GIS Bay module
• To complete the design, supply, delivery and installation requirements associated with the GIS bay extension
• To integrate the GIS extension with the associated protection and control systems
• To configure and verify numerical relay protection functions required under the project
• To integrate GPS-based time synchronization with the existing SCADA setup
• To complete testing and commissioning of the GIS extension in accordance with the contractual requirements

Key Deliverables

The following systems, instruments, and tools were supplied, installed, and commissioned as part of the project:

145 kV GIS Bay Extension

• 145 kV GIS Bay module for extension works at Kaligandaki ‘A’ Hydropower Station
• Design, engineering, manufacturing and supply activities associated with the GIS extension
• Transportation, site installation and associated implementation activities
• Factory testing and field testing of the supplied facilities
• No-load energization of the installed GIS system

Protection and Control Systems

• Control and Relay Panel testing and commissioning
• Configuration of numerical relay overvoltage protection functions
• Verification and witnessing of the configured protection functions
• Integration of protection and control requirements with the GIS extension
• Associated testing and commissioning activities required for system readiness

SCADA, Synchronization and Metering 

• GPS-based time synchronization system installed within the existing SCADA setup
• SCADA integration activities associated with the GIS extension
• Energy meter integration and associated settings/configuration
• Coordination of local and remote SCADA integration requirements
• Integration of monitoring and control interfaces with the existing station environment

Engineering, Testing and Documentation

• Engineering and technical documentation required for approval and review
• Manufacturing and transportation schedules and associated project planning documentation
• Factory and field test plans, test records and field test reports
• Monthly progress reporting with photographs during project execution
• Completion documentation, including as-built drawings, operating manual, as-built cable schedule and other relevant documents

Challenges

The project involved several technical, execution, and coordination challenges associated with implementing a substation augmentation through an integrated project scope:

• Integrating a new 145 kV GIS Bay module with the existing electrical, protection, control and monitoring infrastructure
• Coordinating GIS installation with Control and Relay Panel functions and numerical protection relay requirements
• Ensuring correct configuration and verification of protection functions before progressing toward operational readiness
• Integrating GPS-based time synchronization and associated GIS functions within the existing SCADA environment
• Coordinating engineering, manufacturing, transportation, installation, testing and commissioning as interconnected stages of the project

Solution

MSI adopted a coordinated engineering and system integration approach to address the requirements of the GIS bay extension:

• The 145 kV GIS Bay module was implemented through coordinated design, manufacturing, supply, transportation and site installation activities
• Control and Relay Panel testing and commissioning were carried out to support integration of the GIS extension with the protection and control environment
• Numerical relay overvoltage protection functions were configured, verified and witnessed as part of the protection system implementation
• GPS-based time synchronization was installed within the existing SCADA setup to support coordinated system timing
• GIS no-load energization was carried out as part of the testing and commissioning process to verify readiness of the installed equipment

Impact

The project contributed to the extension and operational readiness of high voltage GIS infrastructure at Kaligandaki ‘A’ Hydropower Station.

• Extended the station's high voltage infrastructure through installation of a 145 kV GIS Bay module
• Established associated protection and control functions through CRP testing and numerical relay configuration
• Integrated GPS-based time synchronization within the existing SCADA setup
• Successfully completed no-load energization of the GIS
• Achieved substantial completion of the facilities, with Nepal Electricity Authority confirming that the works had been completed operationally and structurally as required, subject to minor outstanding energy meter and SCADA integration activities

Conclusion

The Kaligandaki ‘A’ Hydropower Station GIS Bay Extension project involved the design, supply, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of a 145 kV GIS Bay module together with associated protection, control, synchronization and SCADA integration activities. The project required the new high voltage equipment to be coordinated with the station's existing systems while progressing through engineering, installation, verification and commissioning stages.

MSI's involvement reflects its capability to execute high voltage GIS extension works requiring coordination between primary electrical equipment and secondary protection, control and monitoring systems. The issuance of the Substantial Work Completion Certificate effective 30 March 2026 confirms substantial completion of the facilities, with the remaining energy meter configuration and SCADA integration activities identified by NEA as minor outstanding items that did not materially affect the operation or safety of the facilities.