The satellite towns of Gyalpozhing and Lingmethang are bracing for a massive economic turnaround as work on the 1,125 MW Dorjilung Hydropower Project gathers momentum. Local business owners, who have struggled since the relocation of the Gyalpozhing college, are pinning their survival on the influx of thousands of workers.
According to Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC), the project is expected to create between 4,000 and 5,000 jobs annually during its construction phase, which is slated for completion in 2032. Preliminary infrastructure, including access roads and bridges, has already brought over 100 workers to the region, providing a much-needed boost to local restaurants, grocery stores, and hotels.
For shopkeepers like Samten Lhamo and hotelier Dechen Penjor, the project represents more than just electricity; it is a lifeline. “After the college relocated, trade deteriorated,” Lhamo noted. “We hope the Dorjilung project will help our businesses pick up again.” Farmers in Monggar and Lhuentse also anticipate a steady market for fresh produce.
The $1.7 billion project, a joint venture between DGPC and India’s Tata Power, recently secured a $815 million financing package from the World Bank. As the largest public-private partnership (PPP) in Bhutan’s history, Dorjilung is set to increase the nation’s energy capacity by 40%, while simultaneously restoring the “lost vitality” of its eastern commercial hubs.
