Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) has been awarded a ₹127 crore contract by Wangchhu Hydroelectric Power Limited (WHPL) for preliminary works on the Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan. The scope involves constructing diversion tunnels, temporary cofferdams, and hydromechanical gates to facilitate the construction of the main dam. This project aligns with Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2024–2029), which aims to scale the nation’s total hydropower capacity to 6,000 MW by 2029.
Key Infrastructure and Strategic Significance
- Engineering Scope: The project utilizes run-of-the-river technology, which relies on natural river flow with minimal storage, thereby reducing ecological disruption in fragile Himalayan ecosystems.
- Bilateral Model: India provides technical expertise, grants, and soft loans, while Bhutan exports surplus electricity to the Indian national grid.
- Strategic Importance: Hydropower serves as the bedrock of India-Bhutan economic ties, fostering regional grid integration and energy security.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- River Geography: The Wangchhu River originates in the Himalayas, flows through Bhutan, and enters West Bengal (India) as the Raidak River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
- Historical Milestone: The Chukha Hydropower Project (336 MW), commissioned (1986–88) on the Wangchhu basin, was the first mega-project fully funded by India in Bhutan.
- Major Collaborations: Tala (1,020 MW), Punatsangchhu-I (1,200 MW), Kurichu (60 MW), and Nikachhu (118 MW).
- CBET Framework: Cross-Border Electricity Trade is governed by India’s Ministry of Power guidelines, enabling energy exchange with Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.