Dechen Dolkar

The recent heavy snowfall has boosted hydropower generation as the plants in the country generated an additional 4.501 million units (MU) and earned Nu 10.993 million.

Druk Green Power Corporation Limited’s (DGPCL) managing director, Dasho Chhewang Rinzin, said that river discharge increased the next day after snowfall began on February 4, 2022 and it continued for a few more days.

“Between February 5 and 9, due to the snowfall, there was an aggregate increase in the generation of 4.501MU from all the power plants under Druk Green Power Corporation including the Mangdechhu and Dagachhu power plants,” Dasho Chhewang Rinzin said.




The hydropower plants under DGPC include Chukha hydropower plant, Kurichhu hydropower plant, Basochhu hydropower plant and Tala hydropower plant.

He said that it was expected that there will be a minimal residual impact on generation over the next couple of days as there is very little snow left.

However, this does not take into account whatever additional generation that could have been possible from the Tala power plant. The Tala power plant has been shut down since January 1, 2022 for inspection and rectification of the problem in its headrace tunnel.

Dasho Chhewang Rinzin said that as the second-largest power plant after Tala, the Mangdechhu power plant generated the maximum additional electricity of 1.395MU which translates to an extra income of Nu 5.259 million.




When asked whether the import of electricity decreased with the additional generation, Dasho said that only to the extent of the additional generation of 4.501MU would have decreased. “The impact is not so high.”

In January, Bhutan imported about 101MU of electricity which translates to Nu 300 million.