Makawanpur, Dec. 21 -- The first and second units of the Kulekhani Hydropower Project are now fully automated, allowing four turbines to operate entirely via computer without manual intervention.

Nepali technicians completed the work in 55 days, starting from the second week of September. "All four machines in the first and second units are now computer-controlled. Manual operation is no longer required," said Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Automation Project Chief Umang Karki. Previously, manpower was needed to start and stop the turbines.

The project cost around Rs250 million, far lower than a Japanese company's Rs750 million quote. Karki said skilled Nepali engineers worked 24 hours a day to complete the task on schedule. The plan...