Hindustan Construction Company Ltd (HCC) has been awarded a US$68.5 million (INR4.56 billion) EPC contract from the Tangsibji Hydro Energy Ltd of Bhutan for constructing the Nikachhu Hydropower Project in in Tangsibji Gewog,Trongsa district. The dam site is located in Lorim which is 6km downstream from the Chendibji chorten. A design discharge of 25.45m3/s is to be diverted through a 4 m finished diameter head race tunnel which is 12,144 m long and goes through two turbines in  the Power House generating a capacity of 118MW.The water is then discharged into the reservior of Mangdechhu Hydropower Project. For further information visit http://www.hccindia.com/hcc_admin/data_content/pdf_files/Press_Release_-_Nikachhu_HEP_and_Sawalkot_tunnel_order_.pdf. 13/16.

The Dagachhu Hydro Power Corporation (DHPC) invites sealed bids, deadline 30th September, 2008, for design, build and completion of Lot I (civil works), consisting of engineering, procurement and construction of a diversion weir, connection channel and tunnel, desilter, shafts, powerhouse, maintenance and control buildings, water supply, sewerage and sewage treatment system, lighting and small power distribution system. The civil engineering component of the project is difficult due to extreme gradients and unstable slopes. Water from the Dagachhu is diverted by a small dam at an altitude of approx. 825 m above sea level through a short tunnel into the de-silting basin. From there, the water will flow through the main tunnel (approx. 7,700 m) and through the steel penstock (approx. 360 m) into the powerhouse. Contact Dagachhu Hydro Power Corporation (DHPC), General manager, Changangkhang, Post Box No. 1223, Thimpu, Bhutan. Tel. +975 2336095, Fax +975 2336093. E-mail dhpc@druknet.bt 36/08.

Tender notice, deadline 31st March, 2008 for the purchase of tunnelling machinery for implementation of the 1,095 MW Punatsangchhu I hydropower project, which includes a 137 m-high concrete gravity dam, a 10.3 m-diameter 7.5 km-long headrace tunnel and an underground power house. The construction equipment required involves: 1) three two boom hydraulic drill jumbos, with two service platforms for high speed tunnelling, advance boom control, including hydraulic driven compressor, with water booster pumps, cable reel, lights, etc. suitable for cross-section up to 110 square metres; 2) three fully mechanised hydraulic rock bolting rigs for roof height up to 11 metres, suitable for drill steel support with three positions (drilling, bolting and grouting) with one feed for all operations, storage for 10 bolts, bolt length up to 6 metres; 3) three wet shotcrete machines complete with carrier telescopic spraying arm, hydraulic unit, lighting platform, liquid dozing unit. etc. with pumping capacity of about 30 cu m/h; 4) six hydraulic excavators having bucket capacities of about 1 cu m (3 units) and about 1.5 to 2 cu m (3 units) and powered by electric engine, suitable for underground/open excavations, 360 continuous slew type undercarriage tracked; 5) three wheel loaders having bucket capacity of about 3 cu m, front as well as side dump, complete in all respects; 6) nine transit mixers (off highway mobile) having drum concrete capacities of 4 cu m (3 units) and 6 cu m (6 units), truck-mounted, with all the standard accessories complete in all respects; 7) 14 rear dumpers suitable for working inside a 10.3 m-diameter circle-shaped tunnel/open areas having approximate capacities of 12 tonnes (3 units), 18 to 20 tonnes (9 units) and 25 tonnes (2 units); 8) 12 tippers having approximately 6 cu m capacity which can reverse easily; 9) six stationery water cooled electric screw type air compressors having 500 cfm capacity and working pressure 7.5 to 10 kg/sq cm; 10) three 630 kVA, 11/0. 433 KV distribution transformers. Contact Punatsangchhu I hydroelectric project authority, Office of the superintending engineer (mech.), PO Box 290, Phuentsholing, Bhutan. Tel. +975 5252038, fax +975 5252841, e-mail semthpa@druknet.btThe Punatsangchhu I hydropower scheme in Wangduephodrang district is about 240 km from Phuentsholing, the border town of Bhutan with India's West Bengal located 170 km from Siliguri. The project is a joint venture of the governments of Bhutan and India. 11/08.

Award of two contracts for 990 MW Punatsangchu 2 hydropower project to Jaiprakash Associates: EUR190 million for construction of diversion tunnel, dam intake and desilting arrangements including hydro-mechanical works, and highway tunnel; EUR130 million for construction of headrace tunnel from surge shaft, surge shaft, butterfly valve chamber, pressure shafts, powerhouse and tailrace tunnel including hydro-mechanical works. Visit tunnelbuilder archive bt/12 for project history. More from www.jalindia.com. 30/11.

  Project on Wangchu river will generate 1020 MW and will require 22.25 km x 50 m² headrace tunnel, 2 x 992 m long pressure shafts, 2.2 km x 60 m² tailrace tunnel and underground powerhouse. Mainly Atlas Copco equipment delivered under $8 million package.  Work commenced November, 1998 for completion May, 2004. Larsen & Toubro awarded RS900 million contract November, 1998 to build tunnel for Tala Hydroelectric Project Authority for completion early 2004. February 1999.   Five contract packages numbered C-1 to C-5. C-1 comprises the dam complex and 6 km of headrace tunnel (HRT) awarded to Hindustan Construction Company (HCC); C-2 excavation of HRT from 6 km mark to 11 km mark awarded to Jaiprakash Industries; C-3 excavation of HRT from 11 km mark to 15 km mark awarded to Larsen & Toubro; C-4 excavation of HRT from 15 km mark to 22.9 km mark awarded to HCC; C-5 comprises surge shaft, pressure shafts, powerhouse, and 2.2 km tailrace tunnel awarded to Jaiprakash. Each of the contracts has its own access roads and adits, and the individual sites are self-sufficient. Client THPA has built 80 km of access roads to date and work is proceeding on another 20 km to complete. THPA also procured a starter pack of equipment for each contract during tender phase in order to speed up mobilisation. These were on a cost reimbursement basis and included per contract: an Atlas Copco 352 drillrig; a Boltec 435 H rockbolter; a CIFA CSS 2 Spritzsystem shotcrete jumbo; a CK90E 1.2 cu m electric loader; and two Wagner MT 420 dumptrucks. Contractors have since been adding to the fleet, generally purchasing more of the same models.   To date, HCC has completed the diversion tunnel under C-1 and is proceeding to establish three massive desilting chambers and the first section of HRT. Jaiprakash has not been so fortunate on C-2 where it had to deal with a 15 m-long face collapse when it intersected an aquifer 122 m from the portal in its Pade Chu adit. Currently advancing with caution under the protection of 15 m probeholes. Larsen & Toubro has more than half completed its 975 m-long Gedu Chu access adit under C-3, and HCC has nearly completed its 301 m-long Mirchan Chu access adit on C-4. Jaiprakash is portalling at the surge shaft position on C-5. More information from mdthpa@druknet.net.bt October 1999. Shri R. N. Khazanchi, MD of Tala Hydroelectric Project Authority (THPA) in the Himalayan mountain kingdom of Bhutan, has commented on the widespread damage caused to the project by the unprecedented rainfall in early August. Flooding affected the five worksites strung out along the Wangchu river, washing out access roads and destroying workshops and machinery. Even the main highway from Phuntsholing, along which vital supplies are transported, was cut by landslides in a number of places. Measures have been initiated to minimise the impact on the commissioning schedule of the project, despite the severe losses of infrastructural facilities, construction equipment and civil engineering works. Undaunted, THPA has commenced the construction of two 400 kV double circuit transmission lines for the 1,020 MW project for export of surplus power to India through a proposed substation at Siliguri. The lines will be completed in 3 years time to match the commissioning of the generating units. Within Bhutan they will be installed by Larsen & Toubro, and from the Indo-Bhutan border for 1,500 km to Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, near Delhi, by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.  Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Minister for Trade, Industry & Power, Royal Government of Bhutan, who is also the chairman of THPA, commended the management and contractors for the speedy restoration of works. More from linkman@druknet.net.bt or mdthpa@druknet.net.bt October 2000.