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Chencho Dema
Wangdu – Thirteen years after Bhutan and India signed an intergovernmental agreement for the 1,020 MW Punasangchu-II hydropower project on April 30, 2010, the project achieved a major milestone yesterday with the successful operation of the first two of the six turbines.
This marks the official commissioning of one of the country’s most anticipated large-scale hydroelectric projects. The next phase will involve integrating these turbines with power and communications systems to achieve full power generation.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Gyem Tshering, who was present at the ceremony, described the event as a milestone moment, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Bhutan and India to work together on the project.
The minister said what began as a bold vision has now become reality, demonstrating the strength and depth of our partnership. “This achievement is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through collaboration and a shared vision. It is a testament to our commitment to sustainable development, energy security and the enduring friendship between our two countries,” he added.
The project was initially scheduled for completion in 2017 but faced delays due to geographic challenges, flash flooding, the COVID-19 pandemic and the discovery of significant shear zones in the dam’s foundations.
Despite these obstacles, the project successfully overcame these challenges.
U Jin, chief engineer of the Ministry of Energy, said this was a historic moment for the country as it used Francis turbines in a large-scale project for the first time. “All hydropower stations currently in operation use Pelton turbines.”
As testing and commissioning of the first wind turbines begins, the remaining units are scheduled to be commissioned in the coming months. By December, all six wind turbines are expected to be operational and begin delivering power to the grid.
The chief engineer added that they do not have to wait for all six units to start up. “The two units will now undergo some testing and once completed, it will deliver power to the grid in the next few days,” he said.
The project, estimated to cost N94.45 billion, has achieved several key milestones, including the filling of the reservoir on February 21, the filling of the diversion tunnel on June 27, the filling of the tailrace tunnel on August 2, and the filling of the pressure well on August 12.
PHPA-II is being implemented jointly by the Government of Bhutan and the Government of India. As of July 31, 2023, the project currently has 763 employees with an additional 2,944 workers working on site.
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