PUNATSANGCHHU  HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECT

 

Updated on November 22,  2004

 

 

Hydro electricity Page : Basochhu Project :Chukha Project  :Tala  Project : Kurichhu Project

 

 

CONTENTS

  1. Punatsangchu hydroelectric power project

  2. Memorandum of understanding

 

 

 1. Punatsangchu hydroelectric power project

 

The Royal government of Bhutan  submitted two project reports on the development of 360 MW Mangdechhu and the 870 MW Punatsangchhu hydroelectric projects to the Government of India. It  requested the Government of India to consider financing of these two hydroelectricity projects along the Kurichhu and Tala modalities. The Mangdechhu power project is estimated to cost about US$ 349 million, whereas the Punatsangchhu will cost around US$ 813 million.

 

His Majesty the  King of Bhutan  paid a four day state visit to India  on September 14-18, 2003.  During the King's visit, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and his Bhutanese counterpart Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk for the preparation of a detailed project report on the 870 MW Punatsangchu hydroelectric power project on September 15, 2003. The two governments also agreed that India would continue to purchase excess power generated by Bhutan’s hydropower projects.

 

The Punatsangchu hydroelectric project is a run-of-the-river scheme along the course of the Punatsangchu river, downstream from Wangduephodrang town. It will have an installed capacity of 870 MW with an annual average generation of 4330 GWh. According to existing feasibility studies, a 141-metre high diversion dam will be located 10 kilometres downstream from the Punatsangchu bridge and an underground powerhouse, operating under a head of 310 metres, will be located 18 kilometres downstream from the bridge.  The project will also have twin seven-kilometre long head-race tunnels conveying a total maximum discharge of 248 cumecs and 250 metre long twin tail-race tunnels. Feasibility investigations of the Punatsangchu project were taken up between 1998 and 2001 by the electric power development company ltd (EDPC) of Japan through JICA.

 

The identification of the site was done in 1990-1992 by NORCONSULT-AS, a Norwegian consultancy firm. NORCONSULT-AS did the pre-feasibility study in 1992-1993 under the UNDP-NORAD project. According to the ministry of trade and industry, about US $ 1.00 million had been spent for various studies conducted on the Punatsangchu project,  reports Kuenselonline.

 

 

2. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

 

Memorandum of understanding between the Government of India and the Royal Government of Bhutan regarding the Preparation of detailed project report for the Punatsangchhu Hydro-Electric Project in the Punatsangchhu Bashin, Bhutan

 

September 09, 2003

 

Background:

Cooperation in hydropower sector is an important part of economic cooperation between India and Bhutan. 336 MW Chukha and 60 MW Kurichu are successful projects and people of both countries are reaping the benefits. 1020 MW Tala will add another important milestone to this cooperation when the Project comes on stream in 2005-06. The vast potential that exists in this sector in Bhutan complements our needs in power sector. The MOU on undertaking DPR on Punatsangchhu is in continuation of GOI policies for further developing hydropower potential in Bhutan.

Brief Details of the Project :

This is a run-of-the-river scheme along the course of the Punatsangchhu river, downstream of Wangdue Phodrang town. As per the existing feasibility level studies, the scheme envisages a 141 m high diversion dam, twin 7 km long head-race tunnels conveying a total maximum discharge of 348 cumecs, an underground power house operating under a head of about 310 m, and twin tail-race tunnels about 350 m long. An installed capacity of 870 MW (6 x 145 MW) has been proposed, with an annual average energy generation of 4330 GWh.

DPR ( detailed Project Report)

The DPR will be executed by M/s WAPCOS [ Water and Power Consultancy Services ] – a Government of India Undertaking. It will be completed in 24 months and the decision to undertake the Project will be taken thereafter. If implemented, the Project will be implemented in the Tenth-Eleventh Five Year Plan of India.

Funding

The earlier projects in Bhutan were funded by Government of India on a 60:40 Grant : Loan basis. The funding for Punatsangchhu Project will be mutually decided when decision to implement the Project is taken.

Benefits

Most of the electricity generated from the Project is expected to be exported to India at a mutually agreed tariff rate. The revenues from power exported to India constitute substantial portion of Government revenues in Bhutan. The electricity from projects in Bhutan is received in Eastern Grid and displaced to other deficient regions.