Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project

Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project Latest News

India and Bhutan recently deliberated on the commercial optimization of power output from the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (1020 MW) and the early commissioning of the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project (1200 MW).

About Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project

• It is a 1020 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric power project.
• Location: It is located in the Wangdue Phodrang district of Bhutan on the right bank of the Punatsangchhu River.
• The project is being developed by the Punatsangchhu II Hydroelectric Project Authority, under an Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of India.
• It is funded by the Government of India (GoI): 30% grant and 70% loan at 10% annual interest, repayable in 30 equated semi-annual installments commencing one year after the mean date of operation. 
• With the completion of the Punatsangchhu-II project, Bhutan’s installed power generation capacity has increased by about 40 percent to over 3500 MW.
• The project involves the construction of a 91 m-high and 223.8 m-long concrete gravity dam, along with a diversion tunnel with a discharge capacity of 1118 cubic metres per second.
• The project also involves a 168.75 m-long and 22 m-high upper cofferdam and a 102.02 m-long and 13.5 m-tall downstream cofferdam.
• It will comprise an underground powerhouse equipped with six Francis turbines of 170 MW capacity each. 

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Key Facts about Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project

• It is a 1.2GW run-of-the-river hydroelectric power project.
• Location: It is located in Wangdue Phodrang district of Bhutan on the left bank of Punatsangchhu River.
• The project is being developed by Punatsangchhu I Hydroelectric Project Authority, an entity formed under a bilateral agreement signed by the Bhutanese government and the Government of India (GoI) in July 2007.
• It is funded by the Government of India (GoI): 40% Grant and 60% Loan at 10% annual interest, repayable in 30 equated semi-annual installments commencing one year after the mean date of operation.
• It is the largest hydro power project to be undertaken in Bhutan in partnership with the Government of India.
• The project comprises a 130m-high and 239m-long concrete gravity dam. 
• It involves the construction of two diversion tunnels.
• The facility includes an underground powerhouse that will generate power via six 200 MW turbines.

Source: TH