Context
India and Bhutan have also agreed to enhance hydropower and transmission collaboration in order to optimise the available projects as well as to enhance long term energy security under the neighbourhood-first policy of India.
Key Highlights
- India and Bhutan have been having a strategic partnership in the hydropower sector.
- The two countries settled on further collaboration in power production, transmission, and long-term forecasting.
- The Hydropower cooperation is still the foundation of the bilateral relations between India and Bhutan which has helped Bhutan to grow economically, and India to secure its energy needs.
Recent Developments
- The meetings were dedicated to the optimisation of the current hydropower facilities and the rapid completion of the placing on hold projects.
- The session once again proved that India is the main development partner of Bhutan in the power sector.
Key Hydropower Projects Discussed
- Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (1020 MW):
- Focus on commercialisation of power output.
- Intends to maximize the revenue on Bhutan and provide a stable supply to India.
- Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project (1200 MW):
- Pressure on a premature commissioning following long delays.
- Important to fulfill export duties in Bhutan and the peak demand of India.
- Sankosh Hydropower Project:
- Talks of the way forward on whether to revive one of the biggest proposed hydropower projects in Bhutan.
Transmission and Long-Term Planning
- The two addresses talked about transmission infrastructure planning until 2040.
- Focus areas include:
- International grid fortification.
- Connection of Bhutanese hydropower to the national grid of India.
- Extensive technical consultations are also being conducted to make energy connected in the future.
Operational and Regulatory Issues
- Attention to expediting power scheduling approvals particularly on the occasion of:
- Fine winter when rivers diminish.
- It is expected that improved coordination will:
- Enhance grid stability.
- Assure consistent incomes of Bhutan.
- Enhance the availability of energy in India, eastern and northeastern areas.
Strategic Significance of India–Bhutan Power Cooperation
- The exports of hydropower bring more than 20 percent of GDP to Bhutan and, therefore, India is critical to the economic stability of Bhutan.
- In the case of India, Bhutan hydropower:
- Favors transition to clean energy.
- Helps fulfill renewable energy and climate engagements.
- Ensures energy self-sufficiency in the region.
- The cooperation also reduces the increasing Chinese influence in Himalayan region by strengthening the policy of neighbourhood-first in India.
Challenges
- Project delays due to:
- Geological instability of the Himalayan land.
- Expense excesses and environmental issues.
- Climate change impacts:
- Glacier melting and unpredictable precipitation to hydropower.
- Should have improved risk-sharing mechanisms and prompt dispute resolution.
Way Ahead
- Speedy completion of the pending hydropower projects with rigid schedules.
- Diversify cooperation into:
- Pumped storage.
- Grid-scale energy storage.
- Enhance institutional capabilities of:
- Power trading.
- Climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Streamline the collaboration between the net-zero plans of India and the model of sustainable development of Bhutan.
Source: The Hindu
Mains PYQ
(Q) Border management is a complex task due to difficult terrain and hostile relations with some countries. Elucidate the challenges and strategies for effective border management. (2016)
- India and Bhutan renew hydroelectric power as a foundation of bilateral relations.
- Work on optimisation of Punatsangchhu-II and commission Punatsangchhu-I.
- Planning of long-term transmission till 2040 in progress.
- Scheduling of the power during lean seasons prioritised.
- Collaboration enhances energy security and clean energy objectives in the region.
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