After more than ten months, Unit III or the third turbine of the Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Plant (MHEP) in Trongsa resumed generating power on Thursday. It was shut down on September 20 last year after a flashover inside the stator and winding jumper left the machine dysfunctional.
According to the MHEP Authority, the turbine was repaired and connected to the grid a month before the deadline.
With all its units in operation, the MHEP produced over 770 MW of electricity between Thursday and Friday. The authority said they could repair the damaged turbine during the peak season of power generation.
The 720 MW plant has four turbines in total, producing 180 MW of electricity each.
Officials from the hydropower plants in the country and those from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) worked together to restore the third unit. BHEL, an Indian Company, was awarded the contract to construct and install the turbines at MHEP.
During the last Parliament, the finance minister said the frequent shutdown of Unit III led to a revenue loss of more than Nu. 1.3bn since its commissioning in 2019.
Meanwhile, an MHEP official said all four units would have to undergo routine maintenance alternatively. But with the turbines in operation producing extra power, the revenue loss during such times is usually compensated.
Last year, the MHEP generated and exported electricity worth more than Nu. 13bn.
Passang, Trongsa
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
