Construction: The Construction Development Corporation Ltd. (CDCL) yesterday unveiled hydropower equipment worth Nu 214 million (M) at Hosethangkhag in Wangdue.

This purchase was the first phase of the procurement plan for hydropower construction under department of hydropower, CDCL. The equipment includes two drilling jumbos, shot crete machine, concrete pump, steel bending machine, transit mixtures, explosive bans and wheel loader.

CDCL’s general manager for department of hydropower Ugyen Gyeltshen said the equipment were for Khorlongchu-hydroelectric project, where CDCL is expected to get few kilometers of Head Race Tunnel (HRT) construction.

However, he said they are yet to get the work, and the two governments of Bhutan and India were still discussing on the scope of the work.

CDCL would be the first Bhutanese construction company to take up hydropower project construction works. As of now, expect for few minor works all major works at the hydropower projects constructions within the country are carried out by Indian companies.

The department might recruit more than 150 national workers for the construction of HRT at Khorlongchu project, he said. Around 30 workers were already recruited for the construction of exploratory tunnels for the dam of Nyera-Amari hydropower projects.

Ugyen Gyeltshen said they have been training around 39 frontline workers, who were deployed on attachment at various hydropower projects in the country and also sent to India and South Korea.

Druk Holdings and Investment (DHI) has approved Nu 374 M for purchase of machineries, training and recruitment of national workers of which Nu 214 M was released.

DHI chairperson, Dasho Sangay Khandu said the unveiling of these equipment also means that CDCL is ready for the work. However, CDCL would not work to make profit but focus on quality work and recruit national workers only.

Dawa Gyelmo | Wangdue