Bhutan's hydropower ambitions
Bhutan intends to increase production of hydropower to keep up with growing energy needs and spur economic growth.
Story by Mary Kay Magistad, PRI's The World. Use audio player above to listen to full report.
In the next 10 years, Bhutan intends to increase production of hydropower to keep up with growing energy needs and spur economic growth, by selling excess hydropower to neighboring India. Currently, exporting hydropower to India generates more than half of Bhutan's gross revenue. The country hopes this will allow it to be less dependent on foreign aid.
"Considering the enormous potential we have, it promises us this potential of making the country self-reliant," said Yeshi Wangdi, director-general of Bhutan's department of energy. "The faster we can develop hydropower, the better it is for the country."
Bhutan wants to become self-sufficient, and it sees hydropower as its strongest card to play. Signs of climate change are only adding to the sense of urgency, according to Wangdi.
"The government feels the urgency to develop hydropower schemes in an accelerated manner, before the waters become dry," Wangdi said. "We expect that to happen in 50 to 60 years. So before that, if we can have all these projects, at least they will have earned all the returns."
With the returns, Bhutan hopes to build up other sectors of its economy, according to Prime Minister Jigme Thinley. "We hope to become a destination for world-class education, as also for health services. We have already begun to promote Bhutan as an IT-enabled knowledge society."
Read the rest of this story on TheWorld.org.
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