Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 720 MW Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Plant (MHP) at the Semtokha Dzong today.
With the inauguration, Bhutan achieved another milestone in the history of the hydropower sector. The construction of the Nu 52bn Mangdechhu project began in 2011. It has four turbines with a capacity to produce 180 megawatts of electricity each.
The Power Purchase Agreement between the Power Trading Corporation of India Limited and the Druk Green Power Corporation for sale and purchase of Mangdechhu was also signed today. Gross revenue of Nu 12bn is expected annually from the sale of power.
“We looked at the past, present and future and tried to monitor and then planned for the upcoming programmes on time. So the timely decision taken for any works and the end result is the basis for the success of Mangdechhu Project,” Chencho Tshering, the Joint Managing Director for MHPA, said.
The project received certificates of appreciation from the Labour Ministry on aspects of Occupational Health and Safety for three consecutive years since 2016. The project also received the Best Hydro Power Developer Award.
The completion of the project brought smiles and contentment to hundreds of people living in Trongsa. They said that the construction of the hydropower have immensely benefited them from the start
“We are blessed to have a project in Trongsa. Now it is very convenient to do any activities and lives here have improved,” Sonam from Langthil Gewog, said.
“The roads are constructed wherever necessary and the once isolated place has now become a town,” Yangzom, also from Langthil, said.
“Locals here are provided with jobs and they could sell their farm produce,” Sonam Dhendup, the Langthil Gup, said.
It took seventy contractors to complete the project which has a capacity to light 13.2 million bulbs. The country’s installed power capacity has also increased from some 1,600 MW to about 2,300 MW today.
