Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan

Why in NEWS ?

• India-assisted Mangdechhu hydroelectric project in Bhutan has been awarded the prestigious Brunel Medal for excellence in civil engineering by the UK-based Institute of Civil Engineers.

ABOUT

• The Mangdechhu hydroelectric project (HEPP) is a 720MW run-of-river power plant built on the Mangdechhu River in Trongsa Dzongkhag District, central Bhutan.
• A part of the Indian Government and the Royal Government of Bhutan, Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project Authority (MHPA), developed the project.
• Mangdechhu is one of the ten hydroelectric projects being developed as part of the Royal Government of Bhutan’s initiative to generate 10GW of hydropower by 2020 with support from the Indian Government.
• The two governments signed an agreement for the construction of Mangdechhu HEPP for Rs28.96bn ($434m) in April 2010.
• The Indian Government funded the project through a 70% loan and a 30% grant. India approved a revised cost estimate of Rs40.20bn ($602.7m) for the project in 2016.
• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) supplied the underground powerhouse of the Bhutanese hydroelectric project with four 180MW Pelton turbines.
• India’s state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) acted as a design and engineering consultant for the Mangdechhu hydropower plant.

BACKGROUND

• Indo-Bhutan hydropower cooperation began in 1961 with the signing of the Jaldhaka agreement. The Jaldhaka project is situated on the Indian side of Indo-Bhutan border in West Bengal.
• A landmark development in the history of Indo-Bhutan hydro-relations took place in 1987 with the commissioning of the 336 MW Chukha Hydropower Project (CHP).

CONCLUSION

• The traditionally unique bilateral relations between India and Bhutan is characterized by trust and understanding which have matured over the years. Cutting across regime lines on both sides, India and Bhutan have enjoyed an all-weather relationship.
• The special relationship has been sustained by the tradition of regular high level visits and dialogue between the two countries.
• India’s support in the development of the hydropower sector in Bhutan is the centrepiece of Bhutan-India economic cooperation and is one of the main pillars of bilateral cooperation. The cooperation in the hydropower sector is full of opportunities and has been recognized by both Bhutan and India as being mutually beneficial.
• This sustainable win-win situation for both sides makes the relationship between the two nations even stronger and long lasting.