Nima  | Sarpang

Work to supply electricity to Jigmeling industrial estate in Sarpang from the Jigmeling substation has begun.

A preliminary survey to estimate the amount of power required for the industrial estate was conducted last month.

A 130 Kilo Volt (KV) transmission line would be built to supply power to the industrial estate, according to officials from the substation.

The substation was constructed mainly to connect power lines between eastern and western Bhutan, and it would be supplying electricity to more than 150 industries at the industrial estate.

There are four investors working at the estate, mostly engaged in site development. A paper Kraft factory that requires over 11KV of power is expected to complete in April next year.

Substation maintenance division Manager in Jigmeling, Dorji Wangchuk said that there was no impact on the substation despite the slow progress at the industrial estate.

“Almost all power that comes from generating stations, mainly from Mangdechhu power plant is exported to India. Even the excess power from the western plants is exported through the substation,” he said.

He added that the substation would also be able to supply the required power to the industrial park once the industries are ready.

“By the time the industries are ready, transmission line for power supply would also be ready. It would take only two to three months to build the towers. There is not much development at the estate,” said Dorji Wangchuk.

The industrial estate is expected to have a permanent water supply towards the end of 2022; the works are underway at the park today. Construction of electricity duct and trench is expected to complete by the end of 2021.

The branch manager at the 400kV Gas Insulated Substation in Jigmeling, Sonam Wangchuk said that power coming to the substation was not fed to industries because the industrial park is still in the developing phase.

“It was earlier reported that all power coming to the substation would be used for industries and then the excess would be exported. But, we didn’t feed to industries so far. It’s directly exported. There is no impact on the substation and the power generated,” he said.

Edited by Tshering Palden