Asia and Oceania

India commissions 1,200-MW Teesta Stage III hydropower project in Sikkim

India’s Sikkim state has commissioned the 1,200-MW Teesta Stage III hydropower project, according to the state government’s website.
India commissions 1,200-MW Teesta Stage III hydropower project in Sikkim

India’s Sikkim state has commissioned the 1,200-MW Teesta Stage III hydropower project, according to the state government’s website.

Teesta Stage III was reported to cost more than US$1.4 billion to develop.

Teesta Urja Limited was formed to develop the project and has a build-own-operate-transfer contract for 35 years, after which the project will be returned to the government of Sikkim.

The scheme consists of a 60-meter-high concrete-faced rockfill dam with two tunnel spillways, a reservoir flushing tunnel, two desilting chambers, a headrace tunnel and surge shaft, along with two pressure shafts. The underground powerhouse contains six 200-MW turbine-generator units.

HydroWorld reported in September 2015 that the project was about 90% complete. Filling of the reservoir was completed on Sept. 15, 2016.

Under the original schedule, the plant was to be commissioned in September 2012.

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