Address by the Managing Director, Bhutan Power Corporation Ltd on the occasion of 10th BPC’s Foundation Day – 1 JULY 2012

Dear Members of the BPC family,

1st July 2012  is a very special day for all of us as it marks the occasion of decade of our service to the Tsa-Wa-Sum since BPC’s formation on 1 July 2002.  Because  of the Wangduephodrang Dzong fire tragedy, we would be observing the day with a Puja ceremony for the safety of our employees, infrastructures and the valuable customers followed by other modest and low profile programs that have been arranged.

On this special day, let us reflect back and see what we were doing in 2002 and where we have reached and what lessons we have learnt as on today after 10 years of BPC’s existence. At that time that we were corporatized, the value of the gross fixed asset that was handed over to us to own, operate and maintain was Nu 3.325 billion. There were 1,270 employees serving 33,993 customers spread over 18 Dzonkhags. Since then, we have come a long way and made a tremendous stride in our quest for progress, growth and excellence. Today, our manpower strength has grown to over 2,203 employees and we serve more than 118,881 customers  all over the 20 Dzongkhags. The gross fixed asset base has also increased to Nu. 14.845 billion. You all know that we have made tremendous progress in expansion of T&D network infrastructures. The T&D loss also improved to 5.48% from 16.29% then. We now cater to a total peak demand of 276 MW as compared to just 92 MW at the time of BPC formation. The overall RE coverage is now over 80% from 25% at that time, taking the country closer to the Royal Government’s vision of “Electricity for All by 2013″. In the capital expenditure front, BPC has been able to do capital infrastructure works as high as worth Nu. 3,348 million per annum as compared to Nu 424 million in 2002-2003. DoP’s annual turnover for 2001-2002 was Nu 381.105 million for energy sale of 510.451 MU when we started in 2002.  Today, BPC’s annual turnover has crossed over Nu 3.545 billion in 2011 for energy sale of 1619.945 MU. Therefore, while there have been 3 to 4 folds increase and growth in customer base, asset worth and energy sale over the last 10 years, BPC managed with 1.73 times increase in its employees’ compact strength, because they are efficient, hard working and diligent with strong sense of corporate culture and ever committed to customer care.

Now that mandate for Rural Electrification programme works will be complete and over by 2013 next year, our next mandate and the important programme activity will be to build transmission line infrastructures for evacuation of 10,000 MW from various mega projects by 2020. As per the National Transmission Grid Master Plan (NTGMP) 2012, we have to build around 1,416 km of Transmission lines worth over Nu 60 billion crossing all over the country for this purpose by 2020. Obtaining the Right of Way clearance and easement right from the Public as well as from various Regulating agencies is going to be the most challenging task to BPC in this regard. We have to strategically plan and prepare ourselves to deal with this issue by seeking proper understanding and full cooperation from all concerned in this case, as these Transmission Lines are  necessary for timely evacuation and export of power from various mega Hydroelectric projects which will enable our country to earn income from export of hydropower, which is the main source of our revenue.

Next challenge that BPC will face after 2013 in the Power Distribution sector will be for the quality and reliability of supply to the Customers spread over a vast and difficult network that we have built during the extensive Rural electrification programme in the past. We have to constantly improve and upgrade the system as well as streamline some of those outdated Standard Operating Procedures to meet the growing expectations of the customers. We have to adopt modern technologies such as IT enabled Smartgrid and best utility practices.

So, while reflecting over the achievement of the last ten years, please start thinking for the future so that BPC will not only continue to grow but sustain electricity service operations in the most efficient manner and to the full satisfaction and happiness of our customers as well as the employees.

On this occasion, I would also like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the Government agencies, Regulators, Shareholder, Associates, international development partners, Consultants, Contractors and our Boards (both past and present) who were and who are associated with BPC directly or indirectly for their sincere contribution in shaping and nurturing BPC’s growth over a decade. These also include our past members of the Board, Management team and all other staff , the valued customers and all well wishers of BPC. Without their efforts, understanding and cooperation, we would not be where we stand today. We appreciate all the efforts put in by them and would like to thank each one of them for all the services that they have rendered in the course of their stint in BPC.

We should also remember that although we will be undertaking a huge quantum of power infrastructures works over the next few years; but we cannot and will not compromise on our values of upholding the highest degree of Integrity, Quality and Safety in whatever we do. These three parameters form the core values in our approach to work in BPC and each and every employee of the company must ensure that these values are upheld at all times irrespective of the situation we may be in.

Finally, I would like to join hands with all the members of the BPC family to celebrate this special day to mark the decade of our successful business operation.  Tashi Delek !