Adani Power and Bhutan's state owned power corporaton to develop 770-megawatt hydropower project

Adani Power and Bhutanese state-owned Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) announced on Tuesday have signed an agreement to develop the 770-megawatt Chamkharchhu-I Hydroelectric Project. The construction is anticipated to begin in the first half of 2027, with its commissioning set to begin within six years of groundbreaking.

The hydroelectric plant will be built under a 49:51 equity partnership between Adani Power and DGPC, following the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model. It would also receive a 30-year concession from the date of commercial operation.

The project is located on the Chamkharchhu River in Bhutan's Zhemgang District and is expected to bolster the country’s power generation capacity and support regional energy cooperation.

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According to Adani Power's Managing Director Anil Sardana, the project is targeting Bhutan's winter electricity requirement needs, creating an opportunity to export surplus power to India during summer.

"Hydropower will play a pivotal role in accelerating South Asia’s energy transition, and this project will contribute significantly to enhancing energy security, reducing carbon intensity, and advancing shared sustainability goals,” Sardana said.

The Chamkharchhu-I plant is the second major hydropower collaboration between Adani Power and DGPC, the first being the 570-megawatt Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project in September 2025.

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The plant comes under a broader 5,000-megawatt hydropower development memorandum signed between the Adani Group and the Royal Government of Bhutan.

According to DGPC Managing Director Dasho Chhewang Rinzin, the project would bolster Bhutan’s energy security, especially during winter, while creating opportunities to export surplus clean energy to India.

“The 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I Hydropower Project will contribute to strengthening Bhutan’s energy security, particularly during the winter months, while creating opportunities to optimise and export surplus clean energy to India,” Rinzin said.

The two organisations said they are evaluating additional hydropower opportunities under the broader development programme.

(With inputs from ANI)