Power and water consulting firm Entura has announced the conclusion of the 36MW Chanju-I run-of-river hydropower project in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, India.
The milestone was announced during a hydropower roundtable hosted by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission in New Delhi, attended by Tasmania’s Minister for Energy Matthew Groom, representatives of India’s Ministry of Power, and members of the private sector.
The participation of the private sector in generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in India was approved in 2005. Chanju-I was awarded to I A Energy through a competitive bidding process and the business engaged Entura in 2007.
“This is a very important moment for us at I A Energy as Chanju-I was our first step towards diversifying into the renewable energy sector,” I A Energy managing director Narendra Goel said.
“We’re very pleased to have worked with Entura to develop a safe, cost-effective and sustainable run-of-river hydropower station that will support India’s need for new renewable electricity supply.”
The project involved construction of a 16m-high barrage, a 4.1km head race tunnel, two underground desilting chambers, underground pressure tunnels, pressure shafts and a surface power house. Entura provided technical expertise in optimising design and construction, costing, contract packaging, selection of equipment, scheduling and project management.
Entura, part of Hydro Tasmania, has undertaken the design of a number of international hydropower projects in the past decade, including Dordi Khola in Nepal, Nam Pha Gnai in Laos, and Neusberg in South Africa.
