Bhutan efforts on rural power supply

Thimphu: In an effort to help accomplish Bhutan's goal of 'electricity for all by 2020', a preparatory study on ‘improvement of efficiency for rural power supply’ was signed between the department of energy (DoE), Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Tuesday 5 February.

The preparatory study would collect necessary information and will decide whether to execute an upcoming project. The project, if confirmed, would commence next year for three years to build an affordable, reliable and sustainable rural electricity supply.

The project aims to develop technical and management capacity of BPC and DoE to ensure delivery of reliable electricity supply to remote villages.

The rural electrification projects require ‘rapid expansion of human resources’ in DoE and BPC to sustain the operation and maintain it once the electrification works are complete, states a press release from JICA office.

One target of the project will be to impart adequate knowledge to DoE personnel on developing off-grid systems like mini-hydro power and solar panels through which the department would provide electricity to remote areas inaccessible by transmission lines.

“Experts from Japan will train BPC technicians to operate and maintain properly the distribution system if the project comes through,” said project coordinator, Mewang Gyaltshen. The project plans state that additional equipment for the Begana BPC training centre would be installed, besides developing long- and short-term policies for institutional and human resource development.

According to the press release, BPC currently works with inadequate management, skilled technicians and insufficient equipment, which hinders rendering prompt and reliable service to the people. This project, funded by Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), supplements the BPC’s main strategy of ‘building human resource capacity to reduce external dependency’ to build professionalism and enthusiasm at work.

About 57.1 percent of the total households in Bhutan are electrified according to records with the DoE.