Project Snapshot
| Product | S-5000/33GY Oil-Immersed Step-Up Power Transformer × 2 units |
| Rated Capacity | 5,000 kVA per unit |
| Voltage | 33kV / 6.3kV (YNd11) |
| Project | Chino Hydropower Station |
| Location | Manang District, Gandaki Province, Nepal |
| Project Type | Run-of-river hydropower |
| Installed Capacity | 7.9 MW |
| Annual Generation | 44.38 GWh |
| Scope of Supply | 2× power transformers + complete switchgear package |
| Dispatch Date | April 17, 2026 |
| Transport | Overland — estimated 6 days to China-Nepal border crossing |
| Standards | GB1094.1/2-2013 · GB1094.3-2017 · GB/T6451-2023 · GB20052-2024 |
Project Background: Powering Nepal’s Energy Future
Nepal sits on one of the world’s most abundant hydropower resources — the Himalayas and their surrounding river systems offer a theoretical potential of over 80,000 MW, of which only a fraction has been developed. In the mountainous districts of Gandaki Province, isolated communities have historically faced severe electricity shortages, relying on diesel generation or going without power entirely.
The Chino Hydropower Station, located in Manang District, Gandaki Province, is a run-of-river development with an installed capacity of 7.9 MW and an annual average generation output of 44.38 GWh. Once commissioned, it will directly alleviate the electricity deficit in the surrounding area — enabling reliable power supply for homes, schools, businesses, and small industries that have long operated without a stable grid connection.
The project is part of the broader China-Nepal energy cooperation framework, representing a tangible contribution to the bilateral relationship through infrastructure that serves Nepali communities directly.
Zhongxin General was selected to supply the two main step-up power transformers and the complete switchgear package — the electrical heart of the power station, responsible for stepping up the generators’ output voltage and connecting the station to the regional grid.
Why Step-Up Transformers Are Central to Any Hydropower Station
In a hydropower station, the generating units produce electricity at a relatively low voltage — in this case, 6.3 kV — which is suitable for the generator windings but too low for efficient long-distance transmission. The step-up transformer takes that 6.3 kV output and raises it to 33 kV for connection to the regional grid, dramatically reducing transmission losses over the distance between the remote mountain station and the load centres it serves.
The choice of 33 kV as the high-voltage class is significant: 33 kV is the standard transmission voltage across Nepal’s distribution network, making these transformers directly compatible with the national grid infrastructure without further conversion.
Each transformer handles the full output of one generating unit. With two units installed, the station has full redundancy — if one transformer requires maintenance, the other can continue to supply power, ensuring the station never goes dark entirely.
Technical Specifications
Core Nameplate Data:
| Parameter | Value |
| Model | S-5000/33GY |
| Type | Oil-Immersed Step-Up Power Transformer (Export) |
| Rated Capacity | 5,000 kVA |
| HV Voltage | 33 kV (nominal, tap position 5) |
| LV Voltage | 6,300 V |
| Vector Group | YNd11 |
| Cooling Method | ONAN |
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
| Phases | 3-Phase |
| Installation | Outdoor |
| Short-Circuit Impedance | 7.32% |
| No-Load Loss | 3,311 W |
| No-Load Current | 0.22% |
| Load Loss | 29,193 W |
| HV Insulation Level | LI200 / AC85 kV |
| LV Insulation Level | LI60 / AC25 kV |
| Insulating Oil Weight | 2,055 kg |
| Active Part Weight | 5,575 kg |
| Total Weight | 9,870 kg |
| Oil Tank Vacuum Tolerance | 49 kPa |
| Serial No. | A250456/A250457 |
| Manufactured | March 2026 |
Off-Circuit Tap Changer Settings (7-Position):
| Tap | HV Voltage (V) | HV Current (A) | LV Voltage (V) | LV Current (A) |
| 1 | 36,300 | 79.5 | — | — |
| 2 | 35,475 | 81.4 | — | — |
| 3 | 34,650 | 83.3 | — | — |
| 4 | 33,825 | 85.3 | — | — |
| 5 (Nominal) | 33,000 | 87.5 | 6,300 | 458.2 |
| 6 | 32,175 | 89.7 | — | — |
| 7 | 31,350 | 92.1 | — | — |
Voltage regulation range: ±10% around nominal 33kV.
Compliance Standards:
- GB 1094.1/2-2013 — General requirements and temperature rise
- GB 1094.3-2017 — Insulation levels and dielectric tests
- GB/T 6451-2023 — Technical parameters for oil-immersed transformers
- GB 20052-2024 — Energy efficiency Grade 1
International Voltage Compatibility
The S-5000/33GY is engineered specifically for the 33kV grid standard used in Nepal and across South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and other markets following British Standards heritage. Zhongxin General manufactures equivalent hydropower step-up transformers for other international voltage classes:
| Grid Voltage | Markets |
| 33 kV | Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, East Africa, West Africa |
| 34.5 kV | USA, Canada, Latin America |
| 35 kV | China domestic, Central Asia, parts of Europe |
| 36 kV | IEC Um=36kV, Europe |
For hydropower projects at other voltage levels or generator output voltages, contact our engineering team for a custom specification.
Complete Switchgear Package
This project was not limited to transformers alone. Zhongxin General supplied the complete switchgear package for the Chino station — providing a single-source solution for the station’s primary electrical infrastructure.
Single-source supply from Zhongxin General ensures full technical compatibility between the transformers and switchgear, simplifies procurement and documentation for the project owner, and reduces the coordination burden during installation and commissioning at the remote mountain site.
Factory Acceptance Testing and Dispatch
The shipment departed on April 17, 2026 via overland route, with an estimated transit time of six days to the China-Nepal border crossing — after which the cargo continues to the project site in Manang District, Gandaki Province.
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About Zhongxin General
Zhongxin General (Sichuan Zhongxin General Electric Energy Co., Ltd.) is a National “Little Giant” Enterprise manufacturing oil-immersed and dry-type power transformers, switchgear, prefabricated substations, energy storage systems, and EV charging infrastructure. Our transformer portfolio covers 30 kVA to 100 MVA, configurable to 6kV, 10kV, 33kV, 35kV, 66kV, 110kV, 120kV, and 132kV in GB and IEC/ANSI configurations for domestic and international projects.
Delivered to hydropower, LNG, port, data center, pharmaceutical, and industrial substation projects across Nepal, Kazakhstan, DR Congo, Tanzania, Argentina, Europe, and China.
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