SILIGURI: Legislators in Bhutan have favoured increased harnessing of the country’s untapped green energy potential, a significant part of which could come to power deficient India under an energy cooperation deal.
Power demand in India, which has an installed capacity of about 270,000MW, is expected to touch 950,000 MW by 2030. Bhutan, on the other hand, has an installed capacity of just about 1,500MW but has potential of producing 24,000MW of energy.
“In this situation, a strong handshake between the two countries can be a win-win situation for both,” Dasho Tsering Wangda, Consul General of Bhutan in India, said. “Bhutan’s has a major objective to achieve 10,000 MW additional installed capacity under co-operation with India. The output will be given to India by 2020.”
In a recent report on public debt management, the Royal Audit Authority raised concerns on increasing hydro debt. At present, that alone stands at about Nu 81.5 billion (Rs 8,150 crore) or 70% of the total national debt.
“The report generated subtle apprehension about Bhutan’s taking a slow path on fresh hydropower development projects to limit its hydro debt,” a senior executive in the Indian power sector, who did not wish to be named, said.
But, W Norbu, former finance minister and present National Assembly MP from BartshamShongphu constituency, considered Bhutan’s debt situation as in moderate risk of distress because of strong track record of project implementation or continuous support from donors.
Former trade minister K Wangchuk referred to possible earning of about Rs 7,400 crore from the next six hydropower projects in the pipeline as a strong enough source to bring down the debt situation to favourable levels. Wangchuk reprsents Lamgong Wangchang constituency in Bhutan’s National Assembly.
“With these opinions of the public representatives, we do not expect any possible change to come in this objective as outcome of the audit report,” said Bhutan power ministry officials.
