In a landmark achievement for Bhutan’s burgeoning engineering community, the 18 MW Suchhu Hydropower Project in Sombaykha, Haa, has officially commenced operations—marking the nation’s first hydropower scheme entirely conceived, designed, and built by Bhutanese professionals. The project, tucked amid the folds of Haa’s verdant highlands, represents a bold step toward energy self-reliance and a testament to the skill and ambition of local engineers.
“This is not just a power plant; it is a declaration of Bhutanese capability,” said Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, at the commissioning ceremony. “By taking full ownership of every phase—from feasibility studies and engineering designs to civil works and electromechanical installations—our engineers have set a new benchmark for national projects.”
Sited along a tributary of the Amo Chhu River, Suchhu harnesses the region’s steep gradients to generate reliable electricity for Haa district and beyond. The run-of-river scheme features a 35-metre diversion weir, a 4.5-kilometre headrace tunnel bored through Precambrian gneiss, and a surface powerhouse housing two 9 MW Pelton turbines. Altogether, the plant is expected to supply roughly 90 gigawatt-hours annually to the national grid—enough to power over 40,000 Bhutanese homes.
Local communities have hailed the project’s arrival. “Since the early days of planning, we’ve seen workshops and training sessions for our youth,” remarked Pem Tshering, a Sombaykha resident. “Today, we directly benefit from both cleaner energy and new jobs. It gives us great pride to say our own people built this plant.”
The drive to indigenize hydropower development grew out of Bhutan’s long-standing partnership with neighboring countries, which until now supported much of the country’s energy infrastructure. Over the last decade, successive governments have invested heavily in capacity-building programs—sponsoring engineers for overseas degrees, establishing in-nation training centers, and encouraging private firms to bid on small-scale projects. Suchhu stands as the first fruit of this policy, but dozens more are on the drawing board.
Looking ahead, officials plan to replicate the Suchhu model across Bhutan’s mountainous terrain, targeting smaller rivers and tributaries with run-of-river schemes that minimize ecological disturbance. By building local expertise, Bhutan hopes to accelerate its transition to 100 percent renewable electricity—furthering its commitment to carbon neutrality and sustainable development.
As the sun set behind the craggy peaks of Haa on inauguration day, the new powerhouse’s turbines whirred to life, sending a steady current of green electricity into Bhutan’s national grid. For the engineers whose blueprints once fluttered in Sombaykha’s monsoon winds, that light represents far more than kilowatts—it shines as a symbol of a nation confidently forging its own path in the clean-energy era.
