The Mangdechhu Hydropower Project Authority (MHPA) in Trongsa has completed 90 percent of tunnel cleaning works as of yesterday.
The cleaning of the hydropower tunnel marks the final phase of project completion works. It is carried out to ensure that stones and other construction debris are removed from the tunnel, which could otherwise enter the power generating units and cause damage.
MHPA’s firefighter team and workers have been carrying out the cleaning works at the tunnel around the clock. The 13.5 kilometer long tunnel stretches from the dam area till Samcholing village in Drakkteng Gewog.
Out of ten phases, only three phases of the tunnel cleaning works now remain. The tunnel cleaning work is expected to complete within the next few days.
Once the cleaning is completed, the closing of Tunnel’s Adits or access way to tunnel will begin followed by filling up of water at the dam.
The power generating unit 1 and 2 of the 720 Megawatt Project are scheduled to be commissioned in February and the third and fourth units in March this year.