Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved yet another milestone in Bhutan with the successful commissioning of unit 1 of the 4x84 MW Chhukha hydro electric project (HEP), following complete renovation and modernisation (R&M) of the generator. Unit 3 of the same project was earlier commissioned by BHEL and has been running efficiently. With the commissioning of unit 1, the organisation has executed the R&M contract for two units (1 and 3), thereby consolidating its position further and rising up to the expectations of the customer, Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC).

DGPC in their commendation letter wrote, “We appreciate the efforts made by the experts from the organisation towards the R&M work, which has led to result-oriented performance.”

DGPC had placed the R&M order for replacement of generator stator and rotor coils of unit 1 and 3. These machines were originally supplied and commissioned by BHEL in the 1980s. The organisation’s units at Bhopal and Bengaluru have provided the equipment and technical supports for the R&M job.

BHEL has executed major projects like Chhukha, Kurichu and Tala in Bhutan and is presently executing export orders for 6x200 MW Punatsangchhu-I, 6x170 MW Punatsangchhu-II and 4x180 MW Mangdechhu Projects, which once commissioned, would take BHEL’s share to 93 per cent of the total power generating capacity of Bhutan.

The organisation is executing hydro-electric projects of around 3,000 MW across the country, in addition to 3,904 MW abroad which includes 2,940 MW in Bhutan and 900 MW in Nepal. Significantly, more than 500 hydro-electric generating sets of various ratings have been ordered on BHEL with a cumulative capacity of more than 30,000 MW, including 6,680 MW for overseas projects.