The 118 MW Nikachhu Hydropower Project in Trongsa extended its completion deadline by another 14 months. It is now scheduled to be complete in June 2022.
The work progress slowed down after some 1300 foreign workers left the project since March due to the pandemic. The import and transportation of critical construction materials were also delayed, the Project officials explained.
Today, there are little over 600 skilled and unskilled nationals with the project. But training them also took some time.
The Project, however, expects to expedite the works with additional 500 foreigner workers joining soon.
Heavy seepage of water in the headrace tunnel, a structure that carries water to the powerhouse for power generation, was another cause for delay. As of now, of the 12-kilometre headrace tunnel, just over a kilometre remains for excavation.
The Tangsibji Hydro Energy Limited, a fully owned subsidiary company of the Druk Green Power Corporation, is implementing the project. The works began in April 2016 and so far, around 64 per cent of it is achieved. This includes the construction of a powerhouse, dam, tunnel excavations and electro-mechanical works.
Similarly, around 98 per cent of the construction of transmission lines is complete.
Meanwhile, the Project officials said the delay will not escalate the initial estimated cost of over Nu 11b.
Passang, Trongsa
