Lower Kopili Hydroelectric Project

Category: Indian Economy — Infrastructure and Renewable Energy

The Lower Kopili Hydroelectric Project is a hydropower project developed by Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) in Assam.

Key facts

  • Installed capacity: 120 MW.

  • River basin: Kopili River basin.

  • Location: West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts of Assam.

  • Project type: Run-of-river hydropower.

  • Developer: Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited.

  • The project has received support from the Asian Development Bank under the Assam power-sector investment programme.

About the Kopili River

  • It flows through Meghalaya and Assam.

  • It originates in the Meghalaya Plateau.

  • It is a tributary of the Brahmaputra and is an important river in Northeast India.

  • River-water quality and the environmental effects of hydropower development are relevant regional concerns.

UPSC key pointers

  • The project is located in Assam, in Northeast India.

  • Hydropower is a renewable source of electricity, although projects can still affect river ecosystems.

  • Run-of-river projects generally depend on river flow and involve less large-scale storage than conventional storage-based dams.

  • Important concerns include downstream flows, sediment movement, biodiversity and rehabilitation where required.