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Bhutan's
Economy: Hydroelectric Power |
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Bhutan Information |
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Sankosh
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Sankosh project: The country's biggest hydropower project with the capacity of generating 2,560 MW of power atSankosh River is being readied for constructions to begin by mid 2013.
Economic affairs minister Khandu Wangchuk said pre-construction infrastructure works that involves building access bridges and roads about 12km north of Lhamoizingkha under Dagana dzongkhagare to start in August 2012.
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"Similar infrastructure works, mainly upgrading of existing roads and bridges on the Indian side will be taken up by the Government of India separately and at present they are looking for an agency to take up the works," he said, adding that on the Bhutanese side infrastructure works would be fully carried out by roads department.
"For the main works such as dam and power house construction, an authority will be appointed to allot the works, expected to start mid next year," he said.
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Undertaken as an inter-governmental project like Punatsangchhu and Mangdechhu projects, the total hard cost of the project is estimated at Nu 97.62B of which, Nu 85.95B is for the main dam.
Cost for pre-construction works in the country, however, is estimated at Nu 1.7B. Present plan include Nu 3.30 per kWh to be levied for the supply of power with Nu 4.07 levied for the first year.
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The Sankosh project was initially planned with capacity of 4,060 MW with irrigation component but the empowered joint group comprising of high officials from both the governments decided to downsize it to 2,560 MW with the project cost lowered by more than Nu 100B from initially estimated Nu 210B, which was found economically unviable.
Regarding the mitigation measures for the environment, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk said that like in the Punatsangchhu project everything would be carried out in a similar manner like afforestation, establishment of nursery conservation of wildlife species and construction of fish rearing tanks.
"Environment conservation is a high priority and we will be very sensitive to protect the flora and fauna," Lyonpo Khandu said. "Nothing will be compromised."
Including the 2,560 MW Sankosh project, four other hydropower projects of 600 MW Kholongchhu, 770 MW Chamkharchhu, 180 MW Bunakha and 570 MW Wangchhu is expected to start by this year.
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by Passang Norbu,KUENSEL, Bhutan's National Newspaper, July 2012 |
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