Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project

Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project Latest News

The 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan has been successfully completed with the synchronisation of its last and final unit, Unit 6 (170 MW), with the power grid, the Embassy of India in Thimphu said recently.

About Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project

• It is a 1 GW run-of-the-river hydroelectric power generating facility located in the Wangdue Phodrang district of Bhutan.
• It is located 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.

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Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project Features

• The project involves the construction of a 91 m-high and 223.8 m-long concrete gravity dam, along with an 877.46 m-long and 12 m-diameter 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.
• The main dam will have seven sluice gates measuring 8m-wide and 13.20 m- high each.
• It will comprise an underground powerhouse measuring 240.7 m-long, 23 m-wide and 51 m-high. The powerhouse will be equipped with six Francis turbines of 170MW capacity each. 
• The turbines will operate at a water head of approximately 236m.

Source: TRIB