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.