Come October and the turbines of the hydropower projects in the country will be repaired within the country. It will be done by Bhutan Hydropower Services Limited (BHSL) in Gelegphu.
Construction of the repair centre is in full swing at Jigmeling. It is expected to be complete in September this year and become operational by October. Once it starts functioning, turbines and other machineries of the hydropower projects will be repaired and maintained at the centre.
“Whatever repairs and reclamation needs are there for the hydropower plants, the components need to be sent to either Nepal or to India at a very huge cost,” said the BHSL’s CEO, Tenzin.
The repair of one turbine costs about Nu.15 MN.
Tenzin also said the repair centre will also address the transportation cost and other inconveniences.
The repair center is expected to reduce maintenance cost significantly with the government planning to produce 10,000 MW of electricity by 2020.
“The turbine and machineries are mostly damaged by dirty water and garbage. To ensure quality and durability, the centre is importing machineries from Spain, Taiwan, Korea, Italy and India,” said the CEO.
The centre plans to repair 17 turbines and other machineries in a year. It also has plans to make turbines. Karma said the discussions have already started with a manufacturing unit.
Once the centre becomes operational, it will employ about 160 Bhutanese. “We are already sending our first batch of the operation team to ALSTOM India Limited for intensive training…”
BHSL is a joint venture of the Druk Green Power Corporation and ALSTOM Hydro Holding, based in India.
