The plant will be constructed on the Lamchela Chu River and will use the power of the river to generate electricity and light the homes and school of the village of Chendebji. If things go according to plan, the plant will start churning out power sometime in mid-2004.
According to a past e7 chairman, E. Linn Draper Jr., "This micro-hydro project demonstrates e7's commitment to helping deliver electricity and its environmental and quality-of-life benefits to the two billion people in the world who live without access to it."
Draper Jr. feels that Chendebji (and other villages in Bhutan) will benefit from the project. "This project will provide electricity and its associated health and quality-of-life benefits to a very remote location while also reducing greenhouse gas and other emissions associated with the burning of fossil fuels," he added.
The Bhutan government and e7 are cooperating on this project as part of an e7 Clean Development Mechanism initiative in Asia that will help reduce around 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Why? Because less fossil fuel is burned for light, heat and cooking.
The Bhutan project is made up of project leader Kansai Electric Power, Electricite de France, American Electric Power and Hydro-Quebec. The e7 is an organisation is made up of leading energy companies from the G7 nations. It collectively promotes the use of sustainable energy development around the world.
