Minister lobbies for BHEL to get Bhutan hydel projects

Heavy industries secretary S Sundareshan is seeking the power ministry's help in getting BHEL nomination contracts for two large hydro electric projects in Bhutan.

The power secretary's intervention, to help BHEL secure the package, has been urgently sought as the approach for the 990 MW Punatsangchhu-II and the 720 MW Mangdechhu HEPs, being funded by the Government of India via 70:30 equity debt ratio, is already in the critical stage of finalization.

BHEL is trying hard to position itself as the lone qualified Indian company to have operational experience of plants of similar capacity in Bhutan.

The heavy industries ministry is also trying to play up the nationalism card.

India and Bhutan have identified 10 large profects totalling around 10000MW to be implemented by 2020 under bilateral agreements.

BHEL has already secured the contract for the E&M equipment package of the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I HEP in Bhutan. Valued at Rs 1,016 crore, the order envisages the manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of equipment and is the single largest contract, ever, to be won by BHEL in the hydroelectric power equipment business segment.
 
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