Nim Dorji | Trongsa

It has been more than seven months since the 720MW Mangdechhu Hydro Power Project Authority’s (MHPA) turbine unit three broke down.

The flashover (near-simultaneous ignition of most of the directly exposed combustible material in an enclosed area) has resulted in the burning and carbonisation of stator (stationary part of a rotary system) windings and other rotor components inside the generator when causing an electric short-circuit.

The rectification of the unit is in full swing.

However, there is no loss in energy generation, as the problem occurred during lean season when the water volume is not enough to generate power from three units.

Within one and a half year of the commencement of the project, the project was successful in generating 4,783.87 million units of electricity – revenue of Nu 19.5.

In 2020, MHPA generated 3,218.194 million units of electricity, of which 50.083 million units were used for auxiliary and losses. The project generated an income of Nu 13.5 billion by exporting 3168.111 million units of electricity.

As per the detailed project report, the project was designed to generate 2925.25 million units of electricity but the project generates 3,218.394 million units of electricity today. The project was supposed to generate an income of Nu 11.845 billion as per the DPR, but last year it was able to make Nu 13.5 billion.

According to the officials, the water volume is not enough to generate the full power of three other units but there is no impact on the power generation.

Experts from India inspected the unit and the restoration is expected to be completed by July.

The restoration of unit three is estimated at the cost of Nu 162 million.

MHPA was completed in seven years at the cost of Nu 51.442 billion. The four units, individually, generate 180MW of electricity.

The handing-taking of MHPA to DGPC is tentatively scheduled within June and July this year.

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