Transmission line workers doing the high wire act

21 April, 2008 - Power shortage in the central dzongkhags of Trongsa and Bumthang should become a thing of the past once Bhutan power corporation limited (BPCL) links Kurichu power, via Tingtibi in Zhemgang, by July this year.

“The erection of electric poles from Tingtibi to Yurmung and Yurmung to Trongsa and stringing works are also being carried out simultaneously,” said BPCL’s executive director (development and construction division), Gem Tshering. “The supply from Tingtibi will be extended to Trongsa by the first or second week of June.”

BPCL will be constructing two substations, one at Kewathang in Trongsa and another at Garpang in Bumthang.

Gem Tshering told Kuensel that, as per the contract, the private contractor should have completed the work by May. “Late snowfall till this month led to other problems which delayed work at Ngangdala,” he said.

The executive director said that, after Trongsa gets the Kurichhu supply, the Chumey mini hydel power plant will be used as a back-up for Bumthang only.

BPCL’s senior manager in Bumthang, Ugyen Dorji, said that three diesel engines were being used in winters, starting from six in the morning till 10 p.m., as the Chumey plant could not generate enough power. “About Nu 7.6 million was spent on diesel fuel between January and March,” he said.