Chhukha Hydroelectric Plant

Bhutan's first major hydroelectric project with an installed capacity of 336 MW, constructed on the Wang Chhu river as a bilateral project between Bhutan and India with 60% grant and 40% loan financing from the Government of India. The run-of-river plant with a 6.5 km headrace tunnel was commissioned in stages between 1986-1988 and generates approximately 1,800 GWh annually, most of which is exported to India. Chhukha HEP was the project that established hydropower as the backbone of Bhutan's economy and demonstrated the viability of large-scale Indo-Bhutan energy cooperation.