Domestic hydropower consumption for the first six months of the year has increased drastically compared to the same period last year. According to the latest figures from the Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) domestic electricity consumption increased from over 1.4 billion units last year to over 2.2 billion units in the first six months. According to the DGPC, an increase in domestic demand is also affecting export figures.
Domestic electricity consumption surged from March last year onwards. Since then the country has consistently consumed over 250 million units of electricity, even in summer months, when domestic consumption is usually low.
The DGPC in a written statement said that domestic consumption increased due to new energy-intensive industries.
Domestic consumption significantly increased since April this year. The months of April, May, and June saw almost 1.4 billion units of electricity consumed.
Meanwhile, this year saw a drastic decrease in hydropower generation. The country generated more than 3.6 billion units till June last year while it dropped to a little over three billion units during the same period, this year.
As per the DGPC, the decrease in power generation is primarily due to poor hydrology with no snowfall in the winter months and delayed monsoon rains.
Hydrology records with the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology show water flow in the rivers where hydropower plants are located decreases substantially.
The DGPC said that with the improvement in river flow from July, all the power plants are generating to their full capacity and the generation trend is expected to continue till the end of September.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Sherub Dorji
