The 126-megawatt Dagachhu hydropower project will be complete on March 15, this year. It was last delayed in October when the connection channel developed cracks, during a test.
The ten-metre connection channel had to be rebuilt after the previous one was partially washed away in October. It had developed cracks while testing the generating units few days before the launch.
Had the project been complete in October, it would have earned the government Rs.160M. The cost of reconstructing the channel, however, will be borne by the contractor as the project was yet to be taken over by the government. Project officials said, almost 98 percent of the work was complete so far.
The project’s chief executive officer Thinley Dorji said by early February, the first unit of electromagnetic will be complete and commercial operation of the first unit will begin February 15. Consequently, the second unit will be operational a month later.
The initial deadline of the project was set in 2013. However, due to poor geological conditions, it was delayed. The delay is expected to cost over Nu. 4B. Therefore, the actual cost of the project would be around Nu. 12B after completion.
Electricity generated from the project will be sold to Tata Power Trading Company, which owns 26 percent of the project’s equity.
