The 360-kilowatt Thimphu Mini Hydropower Plant was re-commissioned yesterday coinciding with His Majesty’s 38th Birth Anniversary celebrations.
The re-commissioning of the plant also commemorates 50 years of formal diplomatic relations between Bhutan and India.
The Managing Director of the Bhutan Power Corporation, Gem Tshering, said a complete revamp of the plant and extension of its power generation capacity was proposed but the government directed BPC to keep the plant as it is.
“Since it is the first hydropower plant commissioned on the diplomatic ties between India and Bhutan, government directed us to keep the plan
t as it is, and to carry out minor maintenance,” the BPC MD said.
Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Togay who graced the event said the mini power plant is significant for Bhutan though it has a capacity to generate electricity for just about 108 households.
It was commissioned 51 years ago as the country’s first hydro power plant. Bhutan today is on the threshold of generating over 1,600 MW of electricity with commission of 15 small and five mega hydropower plants.
On an average, the mini power plant generates a little over one million units of electricity annually. Since its commissioning in 1967, the power plant has generated over 53 million units of electricity, contributing close to Nu 133 m in revenue to the government.
“The direct benefit is it generates 336, which supplies electricity to locals in Jungzhina by connecting to grid,” BPC MD Gem Tshering said.
“Second benefit that we have out of this plant is it also supplies water to the locals from the fore bay tank. The tail race water is connected to the Thimphu city tank.”
The Bhutan Power Corporation in collaboration with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand carried out the re-commissioning works at a cost of nearly Nu 29 m.
