Reliance Group partners with Bhutan govt to develop solar, hydropower projects

Reliance Group announced a strategic partnership with the Bhutan government on October 2 to develop solar and hydropower projects, making this the largest foreign direct investment by a private company in the renewable energy sector in the Himalayan country.

As part of the partnership with Druk Holding and Investments Ltd, the commercial and investment arm of the government of Bhutan, the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group will jointly develop 500 MW of solar and 770 MW of hydropower projects in the country.

The 500-MW solar plant in Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City will be executed over the next two years in two phases of 250 MW each, according to a press release. Once completed, the solar plant will be the largest of its kind, surpassing all existing solar installations in the country, and will produce clean, renewable energy to help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

In addition to the solar project, Reliance Power Ltd and Druk Holding will jointly develop the 770-MW Chamkharchhu-1 Hydro Project, which has been classified as a run-of-the-river project under a concession model in accordance with Bhutan government policy, the release added.