Druk Green at Work
Presently the Druk Green Power Corporation is mainly responsible for operation and maintenance of the four hydropower plants. DGPC presently operates and maintains the following four Power Plants.
BASOCHHU HYDROPOWER PLANT (BHP)
The Basochhu and Rurichhu rivers were identified in the mid 1970's by hydropower engineers as a potential source of energy production in the medium size range. However, the preliminary design of the Basochhu project using the Basochhu and the Rurichhu, both tributaries of the Punatsangchhu, was carried out only by 1994. The construction of the project was financed by the Government of Austria and the Royal Government of Bhutan. The project was built in two stages. The upper stage commissioned in 2002 has an installed capacity of 24 MW with a mean annual energy generation of 105 million units. The lower stage with an installed capacity of 40 MW commissioned in 2005 has a mean annual energy generation of 185 million units. It was only on formation of DGPC, the Basochhu Hydro Power Corporation Limited (BHPC) was emerged and renamed Basochhu Hydropower Plant (BHP).
CHHUKHA HYDROPOWER PLANT (CHP)
The Chhukha Hydropower Project powered by Wangchhu is Bhutan’s oldest mega power project. The Chhukha Hydropower Plant was financed by the Government of India through an Agreement which was signed in 1974 between the two governments. The Chhukha Project Authority was formed in 1975 and it was entrusted with the responsibility of constructing and commissioning the project. With the infrastructure developments works completed during 1974-1978, the main civil and electro-mechanical works started in 1979. The project’s first 84 MW hydro-turbine Unit was commissioned on 7 September 1986 and by 22 August 1988 all the other three Units were commissioned. With the 336 MW installed capacity, the project generates over 1,800 million units annually. Most of the generated energy is exported to India. The erstwhile Chhukha Hydro Power Corporation Limited (CHPC) was formed on July 1, 1991 to operate and maintain the 336 MW power plant along with the associated transmission system that facilitates the export of the surplus power to India after meeting the requirement within Bhutan. With the formation of the Druk Green Power Corporation Limited, CHPCL became an operational unit under DGPC and is renamed as Chhukha Hydropower Plant (CHP).
KURICHHU HYDROPOWER PLANT (KHP)
The Kurichhu Hydropower Plant is located at Gyelpozhing, Mongar on the Kurichhu River in Eastern Bhutan. The Project has an installed capacity of 60 MW consisting of four units of 15 MW each and a mean annual energy generation capacity of 400 million units (MU). Today, it is the only source of electricity for the eastern and central Dzongkhags of Bhutan. During the peak power generation season, over 60% of the power generated from the plant is being exported to India. One of the unique features of the Kurichhu project is its fish ladder that enables migration of fish. The first investigations for the Kurichhu hydroelectric project were undertaken in the early 1980s for meeting the energy needs of eastern Bhutan. The Detailed Project Report was reviewed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (India) in 1993, based on which the Government of India agreed to finance the construction of the 60 MW project on a turnkey basis in 1994.The first unit of 15 MW was commissioned in August 2001. The other three units were commissioned by May 2002. With the formation of DGPC, KHP was merged to DGPC
TALA HYDROPOWER PLANT (THP)
The Tala Hydroelectric Project is the biggest hydropower plant in Bhutan with an installed capacity of 1,020 MW. It is rated to generate over 4,800 million units annually. It is located downstream of the Chhukha plant. Based on the Detailed Project Report prepared by the Water & Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS), the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of India entered into an agreement in 1996 to construct the project with the financing from the Government of India. The government of India has fully financed the project in the ratio of 60% grant and 40% loan basis. The Tala Hydroelectric Project Authority (THPA), created to construct the project, commissioned the first unit of 170 MW in July of 2006. The remaining five units of 170 MW each were all commissioned by March 2007. After operating and maintaining the plant for two years, THPA handed over the project to DGPC on April 1, 2009
External relations
DGPC has maintained excellent business relationships with system operators, transmission providers and power purchasers, both within the Kingdom and in India, ensuring uninterrupted evacuation of power. The nurturing of ties with suppliers of goods and services and government and non-government institutions, both here in Bhutan and outside has enabled the company to function smoothly throughout the year.
During the year, DGPC interacted with a vast number of government and semi-government agencies, local and international financial institutions, private power developers, investors, and consulting and construction firms in the build up to the likelihood of private participation in Bhutan's power sector. DGPC continues to interact with many of these organisations, especially with Government of India and other Indian agencies in the process of achieving Bhutan's vision of 10,000MW by 2020.