He added that upgrading the control and automation systems of Kurichhu Hydropower Plant is a milestone in the history of hydropower projects in the country.
“Since 2018, when this contract was awarded to us, all the Bhutanese team in the company have been working very hard and all these efforts put in today are bearing fruit. So it’s quite encouraging for us looking from the perspective of achieving the national vision of attaining self-sufficiency through the creation of knowledge-based economy,” said Tandin Tshewang, the Chief Executive Officer for Bhutan Automation and Engineering Limited.
Control and automation systems are devices that are both hardware and software-based system which are used to monitor and control industries and power plants. Bhutan Automation and Engineering Limited carried out the design, engineering, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of upgrade works since September last year.
“Kurichhu being the second oldest power plant, the existing automation system at the plant had been old and obsolete. The reliability and also getting spare parts and support services are very difficult. The lives of the automation system are 10-15 years. So they have to be replaced within that time frame,” He added.
The new control and automation systems are expected to provide more safe, efficient and productive services in the power plant.
“Switching to digital automation has many benefits. Firstly I would say safety. It increases the safety of the industrial processes and secondly, it makes the system and processes very efficient not only in terms of manpower but also in terms of energy and other resources, which are involved, in the particular process or concern process,” he also added.
According to him, the control and automation systems of the rest three units of the power plant will be completed and commissioned by April next year. He said such up-gradation works would be carried out in Punatsangchu Hydropower Project II and Basho Hydropower Project as well.
Druk Green Power Corporation invested Nu 157 M for upgrading the automation systems.
Kurichhu Hydropower Plant was formally commissioned in 2006 and it has a capacity to produce 60 megawatts of electricity.
Sonam Tshering
