Author: DGPC Media

Kuensel | Yangyel Lhaden | June 27, 2024

To diversify energy and complement hydropower energy with alternative renewable energy, the Department of Energy (DoE) has identified around 266 government buildings to install eight megawatt-peak (MWp) rooftop grid-tied solar panels.

The project is funded under the Asian Development Bank sub-project one.

Under the same project, the DoE is also currently studying the feasibility of scaling up distributed rooftop solar projects of more than 50 MWp across public institutions in the country.

The project is expected to reduce dependency on hydropower for energy, as the share of alternative renewable energy in total energy consumption remains below one percent, according to the Bhutan Energy Data Directory (BEDD) 2022.

The country’s main energy source, hydropower, depends on the run-off-water scheme While the country exports electricity to India during the winter, it imports electricity at a higher cost during lean seasons.

In the six months from December 2023 to May 13, 2024, the country imported electricity worth Nu 6.07 billion, an increase from the same period the previous year, when it imported electricity worth Nu 1.75 billion.

Moreover, the country’s hydroelectricity export has been decreasing over the years. In 2021, Bhutan exported electricity worth Nu 24.2 billion. It decreased to Nu 22.47 billion in 2022. Last year, the export further decreased to Nu 16.67 billion.

A demonstration project of 11.7-kilowatt (kW) solar panels installed on the campus of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR), which supplies energy to a building, has demonstrated the immense potential of solar energy in complementing hydropower.

The energy generated from solar panels on the campus is fed into the national grid so that solar and hydropower energy can complement each other when one source is in short supply.

Since its installation in 2021 until May 26 of last year, it has generated 19,753 kW-hours (kwH) of energy.

On average the solar panels have generated 897.8 units of energy in a month which is enough to power eight rural residential consumers, 10 highlander consumers, and three urban consumers in a month, considering the average monthly energy consumption per consumer data from Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC).

According to BPC data, 128,111 rural residential consumers consume on average 104.9 units of energy, 1,478 highlander consumers use 91.34 units, and 62,145 urban consumers use 244.2 units of energy in a month.

Taking into account the tariff rate set by BPC, the MoENR office had the potential to save Nu 79,583 over a span of twenty-two months by using solar panels.

The energy department is also working on to provide solar system to 304 households in three districts of Dagana, Lhuntse, and Pemagatshel.

“Currently, the contractor is in process of designing the solar system for the project,” an energy department official said.

This project worth USD three million is part of the Alternative Renewable Energy Pilot Project, funded by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, which is being administered by the Asian Development Bank.

“ In the second phase of the project we are planning to explore additional 200 solar systems under prosumer initiative,” the official said.

Prosumer refers to policies that encourage consumer of electricity to also become producers of electricity. It is a revenue-generation system where the users can sell the surplus electricity as well.

The 304 households, on average, consume 1,004 KwH energy in a year and pay Nu 88 per month and Nu 1,051 per year. The three Kw solar system is expected to generate 3925.63 KwH in a year. The rural households get 100 units of electricity free.

Kuensel | Yangyel Lhaden | June 26, 2024

The Dagachhu Hydropower Project, between 2015 and 2023, generated about 700,000 tonnes of carbon emission credits—tradeable emissions—earning more than Nu 7.77 million, according to Gem Tshering, minister for energy and natural resources.

This information was shared by the minister during the question-and-answer session in the National Assembly yesterday.

The question was raised by Naiten Wangchuk, MP for Mongar constituency, who inquired about the potential for carbon market trade and the progress of trades from registered hydropower projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The carbon market is a system that allows for the buying and selling of carbon credits to regulate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Naiten Wangchuk highlighted Bhutan’s potential in carbon trading, noting the country’s reputation as carbon negative with a sequestration capacity of 8.5 million tons of carbon dioxide—ten times more than the national carbon dioxide emissions.

Dagachhu is one of the three registered CDM projects under the Kyoto Protocol. The other two hydropower projects are Mangdechhu and Punatsangchhu.

Bhutan adopted the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015, both international treaties committing to the reduction of greenhouse gases to combat climate change.

The CDM, outlined in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, permits countries with emission-reduction commitments to implement emission-reduction projects in developing countries.

Naiten Wangchuk also inquired about the revenue generation from Punatsangchhu projects, plans to register new renewable energy projects under Article 6.4, and the potential revenue from upcoming projects.

Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement enables countries to voluntarily cooperate in implementing their climate actions and facilitates the use of international carbon markets to achieve emission reductions.

Gem Tshering said that due to the status of the Punatsangchhu Hydropower Project, it could not participate in the carbon trade market so far. “Although Bhutan is part of the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol for carbon trading, both have not been fully operational. This is why Druk Holding Investment (DHI) is venturing into carbon trading.”

The DHI is working with Singapore for Bhutan to enter into the carbon market.

“In the 13th and 14th plans, 5,413 megawatts (MW) of hydropower, 2,526 MW of solar energy, and 28 MW of wind energy are planned to be constructed,” Naiten Wangchuk said. “The existing registered renewable energy projects and future projects that are in the pipeline could potentially generate a good amount of revenue from carbon trading if pursued with vigor under the Article 6.4.”

BBS | June 25, 2024

During the question hour session in the National Assembly today, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Gem Tshering said that the Dagachu hydropower project has traded close to 800,000 Certified Emission Reduction, CER credits. He was responding to Mongar Constituency’s MP Naiten Wangchuk’s question on the government’s progress on carbon trading.

CERs are carbon credits earned by emission-reduction projects in developing countries equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide. These credits can be sold to industrialised countries to meet their emission reduction targets.

The Bhutanese | Tenzing Lamsang | June 22, 2024

The much delayed 1,200 MW Punatsangchu-I hydro project is finally on the verge of taking off after a recent meeting of the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) in Delhi.

In the TCC meeting in Delhi both the Bhutanese side and Indian side made their presentations and are putting up a proposal on which the final decision is to be taken by the Project Authority.

Earlier, after the rock samples were drilled from the right bank to check its stability there were two reports with the Bhutanese report pointing to deep seated fractures and shear zones and asking for major mitigation measures.

The Indian report while acknowledging the fractures did not see it as big a problem and wanted to go ahead with the dam.

The two sides had meetings to reconcile their reports and are finally coming around to a common understanding.

According to a source, initially the Indian side did not agree to it being very serious but they have now agreed to the need for mitigation measures and so the authority meeting will decide the final mitigation measures and the way ahead.

It has been learnt that the talks are progressing positively and TCC may jointly agree to the dam provided that due mitigation measures are presented and taken on the right-bank side.

The mitigation measures on the right-bank side will go into whether the muck overhead needs to be removed or not, possibly concreting the whole right bank and other measures.

The authority will decide on this and the consultants may be asked to come up or design detailed mitigation measures on the right bank to address the Bhutanese concerns.

Then based on the Bhutanese demand being agreed to the authority is also likely to agree to the dam, but with mitigation measures in place first.

The earlier Bhutanese proposal to build a barrage instead of a dam is likely to be given a quiet burial.

The authority meeting will most probably be after the National Assembly session which ends on 3rd July 2024.

A major concern for the Bhutanese side was the long-term safety of the dam and this is why there was initially no agreement between both the sides, and the Bhutanese side only budged after major mitigation measures are being agreed to.

The PHPA Authority is comprised of Lyonpo Gem Tshering, , Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) as the Chairman, Karma Tshering, Secretary, MoENR,  Leki Wangmo, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dzongdag, Wangduephodrang, Tshering Wangmo, Director, Department of Immigration, Anurag Agarwal, Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of External Affairs., Ajay Tewari, Addition Secretary, Ministry of Power and Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs with

 Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, MD of PHPA-1 as a member Secretary. 

The permanent invitees to the board are Ambassador of India to Bhutan, Ambassador of Bhutan to India. (D&R), Central Water Commission, (Hydro), Central Electricity Authority, Dy. Advisor (Energy), NITI Aayog, MD DGPC, Director DHPS, CEO BPC, JMD PHPA-1, Director (Technical), PHPA-I and Director (Finance), PHPA-1.

Last year Bhutan and India agreed to drill multiple rock samples into the right bank area to check for its stability to see if a dam is feasible or not.

The rocks show fractures along the whole right bank in lots of places where boreholes have been done.

On the Bhutanese side the main focus was on the need for a thorough mitigation and right bank stability before the dam could even be brought up.

The Bhutanese side wanted mitigation measures before going ahead with the dam and this is what is likely to have been agreed to before the dam is agreed to

Background

In 2008 the then PHPA MD R.N Khazanchi proposed to change the original dam site to generate more power which was agreed to by the then cabinet.

A Joint Audit Report of the two countries said the PHPA, its main consultant WAPCOS and CWC knew that there were geological weaknesses at the right bank area but still went ahead with the tendering of the dam.

The problem made itself known with a major slide on the right bank in July 2013 which at the time WAPCOS and the civil consultant CWC said could be fixed with Nu 3.5 bn of mitigation measures. However, despite the measures another major slide happened in August 2016 and again despite additional mitigation measures the same area slid on 22nd January 2019. A total of Nu 4.85 bn spent on mitigation measures had failed.

After this, the government in the 21st PHPA Authority meeting in January 2019 insisted to the Indian consultants to come up with a comprehensive solution.

The report was submitted by CWC on 1st October 2019 and detailed drawings later in December of the same year.

One suggestion of the CWC was that the dam on the right bank side be constructed over 288 concrete piles driven into the ground to avoid excavating the shear zone below the right bank side

The Bhutanese side not very convinced with the idea of concrete piles under the dam for the long term and feeling the need for an overall review of CWC’s proposal called for a review in the TCC meeting

The National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) was then called upon to do a third-party review of the WAPCOS and CWC proposal.

The NHPC in mid 2020 presented its review of the CWC report as a third party and disagreed with the CWC assessment and said it is not safe enough to build a dam.

The NHPC instead recommended to build a smaller structure in the form of a barrage 820 meters upstream of the current site.

The project authority asked the two companies with different findings to reconcile their contradictory findings. The two companies came back giving a factor of safety of 1.4 safe enough for a dam.

However, this called into question how the NHPC drastically changed its own stance and data to fit in with the CWC.

The government through DGPC hired a foreign company Stucky to do a review of the review which also showed the current site to be unsafe with a recommendation for a barrage.

With no agreement, a joint expert committee was set up by Bhutan and the Government of India (GoI) but they were unable to agree on the future course of the 1,200 MW Punatsangchu-I, with the Bhutanese side insisting on a barrage due to safety concerns over the dam site, and the Indian side insisting that the dam can be done at the dam site.

The Bhutanese side softened its stance in 2023 and has agreed to do a set of geo technical investigations on the right bank area and the dam site near it. The findings were to look at the geological conditions.

If the dam was abandoned of the Nu 23 bn spent on it around half of the cost in other structures like the 4 large de-silting chambers and around 11 km of tunnels could have been reused for the barrage.

Nu 83 bn has been spent on the project so far as of last year.

Kuensel | Yangyel Lhaden | June 19, 2024

The promotion of alternative renewable energy (ARE) faces significant challenges. According to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR), the major obstacles include difficulty securing financial resources and technical and infrastructural challenges,including obtaining community clearance.

According to the Renewable Energy Management Master Plan 2016, Bhutan can produce 12 gigawatts (GW) of solar energy and 760 megawatts (MW) of wind energy. The 13th five-year plan aims to develop 500 MW of alternative renewable energy by 2029 and increase it to 1000 MW by 2034 to achieve energy security.

However, only 600 kilowatts (kW) of wind energy has been harnessed in the country through the wind farm in Rubesa. The energy department has installed a 276.7-kW solar power system. Other agencies have installed about 1,450 kW of solar power systems. Additionally, a 17-MW solar farm is under construction in Sephu.

The energy department is currently identifying potential solar sites and conducting feasibility studies for ARE projects, which include the 23 MW wind farm in Gaselo and Rubesa.

An energy department official said that, with funding challenges and difficulties in finding suitable sites for ARE projects, obtaining community and environmental clearances is becoming increasingly difficult. “Besides requiring large tracts of land for utility-scale solar farms, there is apparent conflict over land use by communities,” he said.

In the 13th plan, the energy sector received two percent of the total budget amounting to Nu 1,742.876 million.

All ARE projects in the country are funded by donors or through loans from international banks. For example, the wind farm in Rubesa was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the solar system in Shangsa in Lunana is funded by Bhutan for Life, and the solar water heating system is funded by the Austrian Development Agency.

With ARE projects heavily reliant on funding from external sources, the country missed an opportunity to host its first mega 30-MW solar power system in Shingkhar, Bumthang, because the community refused to grant land clearance for various reasons, resulting in the loss of funding for the 23-MW wind farm from ADB.

The ADB, which was set to fund three major ARE projects in 2021 — the 17-MW solar farm in Sephu, the 23-MW wind farm in Gaselo, and Shingkhar solar farm — dropped plans for the 23-MW windfarm due to financial non-viability when Shingkhar solar farm was dropped. As a result, funding was allocated only for the solar farm in Sephu.

Why is promoting ARE important?

The country’s main energy source, hydropower, depends on the run-off-water scheme. While the country exports electricity to India during the winter, it imports electricity at a higher cost during lean seasons.

In the six months from December 2023 to May 13, 2024, the country imported electricity worth Nu 6.07 billion, an increase from the same period the previous year, when it imported electricity worth Nu 1.75 billion.

Moreover, the country’s hydroelectricity export has been decreasing over the years. In 2021, Bhutan exported electricity worth Nu 24.2 billion. It decreased to Nu 22.47 billion in 2022. Last year, the export further decreased to Nu 16.67 billion.

An energy department official said that AREs are aimed at complementing hydropower. “When energy from hydropower is in short supply, AREs fed into the national grid would complement it. Conversely, when AREs are in short supply, hydropower will fill the gap.”

“The national grid fed with hydropower and AREs would help us realise our dream of energy security,” the official said. When the Sephu solar farm is completed, it is expected to generate 25 million units of energy which would be fed to the national electricity grid. On average, an urban household consumes five kilowatts of energy a day. This means the Sephu plant can power 3,476 households.

The Sephu solar farm has the capacity to reduce 24,495.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions if the plant-generated energy is exported.

If the Shingkhar solar farm was constructed, it could have had the potential to generate 46.19 million units of energy annually, with an annual revenue generation of Nu 233.725 million.

The Bhutanese | Tenzing Lamsang | June 16, 2024

Gautam Adani, the Chairman of the Adani Group in India set out a tweet around midnight on Sunday saying that he has signed an MoU with the Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) for a 570 MW Green Hydro Plant in Chukha.

The tweet was accompanied with a picture of Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay with Mr. Adani at Buddha Point.

He said, “Admirable to see PM Bhutan advancing the vision of His Majesty The King and pursuing broad ranging infrastructure initiatives across the Kingdom. Looking forward to working closely on hydro and other infra in Bhutan.”

Mr. Adani is referring to the 570 MW Wangchu project which will be down stream of Tala project.

The project is being studied with a preference to change it into a 900 MW reservoir project.

As per the 2024-25 budget documents the projects aims to start on April 2027 and be completed by April 2034. The DPR is to be reviewed with preference for a 900 MW reservoir option.

According to sources while an MoU has been signed formal discussions have not started and so the MoU is a form of expression to start discussions.

DGPC is already in discussions with the Tata Group for the 600 MW Kholongchu project.

The entry of Tata and Adani is, however, not the first as DGPC already has a partnership with Tata in the 126 MW Dagachu project.

Business Bhutan | Nidup Lhamo | June 15, 2024

With the signing of an agreement between Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) and Tata projecs, the project is now expected to move forward

After years of suspension, the Kholongchhu Hydropower Project is set to resume operations next month, following the signing of an agreement between Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) and Tata Projects. This development marks a significant milestone in Bhutan’s energy sector, heralding renewed prospects for sustainable energy production and regional development.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR), Gem Tshering, during a session of the National Assembly, in response to inquiries raised by Trashiyangtse Bumdelling-Jamkhar Member of Parliament (MP), Wangdi, on June 14th 2024. The MP queried the Ministry on the project’s timeline, the feasibility of maintaining the Kholongchhu office in Trashiyangtse town, and strategies to mitigate cost escalations, which have escalated from the initial estimate of Nu 54.4 billion. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding contingency plans for solar and wind energy in light of potential climate change challenges.

“The commencement of the Kholongchhu project will not only foster balanced regional development but also reduce our dependence on imported electricity,” emphasized MP Wangdi.

Minister Gem Tshering assured that the project is slated to restart operations next month, prioritizing the completion of ongoing projects like Puna Tsangchu I and II before transitioning to Kholongchhu. He underscored the Ministry’s efforts in advancing smaller nearby initiatives such as Gamri I and II to complement broader energy development goals.

Highlighting the project’s historical challenges, Minister Gem Tshering acknowledged the prolonged hiatus since 2016 due to financing hurdles. However, with DGPC assuming full ownership of Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Ltd. post-joint venture closure, renewed optimism surrounds the project’s prospects. The current financing strategy involves a debt-equity ratio of 70:30, with 70 percent secured from reputable Indian institutions like the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), specialized in energy sector investments. The remaining 30 percent equity will be sourced from capital markets, ensuring a robust financial foundation for the project’s resumption.

“While there may be temporary inconveniences and challenges for local communities, the completion of these projects will bring long-term benefits, fostering sustainable development,” reassured Minister Gem Tshering. He emphasized the positive implications of reduced reliance on imported electricity, reflecting Bhutan’s evolving industrial landscape and economic progress.

The anticipated revival of the 600 MW Kholongchhu project not only signifies a strategic leap forward in Bhutan’s energy independence but also underscores the government’s steadfast commitment to harnessing natural resources for socio-economic growth. As preparations gain momentum, stakeholders anticipate a transformative impact on national energy security and regional prosperity, positioning Bhutan as a beacon of sustainable development in the global energy landscape.

Kuensel | Thukten Zangpo | June 15, 2024

The members of Parliament questioned the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Gem Tshering, on the government plans to develop hydropower projects, export minerals, and harvest of non-wood forest products during the National Assembly session yesterday. 

The Radhi-Sakteng MP, Tashi Tenzin, asked the minister about the government plans to upscale the export of minerals and mineral products to reap the benefits. 

He said that Bhutan was endowed with industrial minerals such as dolomite, limestone, marble, quartzite, gypsum, construction materials (and stones and aggregates) that are projected to last for several hundreds of years. 

Lyonpo Gem Tshering said that the government had plans to review and streamline the procedures for export and revise the Mines and Minerals Management Act of Bhutan 1995 in the next fiscal year 2025-26.

Lyonpo said that mining, after hydropower, agriculture and tourism, was one of the highest income-generating sectors, contributing almost 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. 

Bumdeling-Jamkhar MP, Wangdi, asked about the commencement of the Kholongchhu Hydropower Project. Lyonpo said that the government was in discussion with India’s Tata. “The Druk Green Power Corporation and the Tata are expected to sign the agreement in July this year.” 

MP Wangdi also asked about the government’s plans to address cost escalation of the project as the given initial cost was Nu 54.4 billion, and the contingency plans of solar and wind energy if the hydro projects face challenges due to climate change. 

Lyonpo said that climate change led to decrease in hydropower generation during the winter and Bhutan imported hydropower from India. However, he added that it also shows signs of development with many emerging industries in the southern part of the country. 

He updated the House on seven hydro-projects that are under construction; the government has also identified several upcoming hydro projects phase-wise.

 These projects include 1,200MW Punatshangchhu-I, 1,020MW Punatshangchhu-II, 600MW kholongchhu, and small hydro projects like 18MW Suchhu, 54MW Burgangchhu, 32MW Yungichhu, and 23MW Sephu. 

 Lyonpo said that the two units of 1,020MW Punatsangchhu-II were expected to be completed by August 15 this year. 

 He added that the government would discuss with the Adani Group in India on construction plans of the 180MW Bunakha project; the 1,125MW Dorjilung’s detailed project report has been completed and the government is looking for funding support from the World Bank. 

He added that 2,800MW Kuri-Gongri’s detailed project report would start soon.

 Lyonpo said that to harness alternative renewable energy, a study found that Bhutan has the feasibility of harnessing 12,000MW of solar energy and that the government aims for the production of 500MW. 

The Bongo-Chapcha MP, Pemba, asked the minister about the government’s plans to address Bongo and Getana gewogs facing inadequate electricity services due to several issues, such as single-phase transformers, a shortage of linemen, and aging, weak poles. 

The Minister said that the Bhutan Power Corporation was aware of the issue and was planning to consider distributing three-phase transformers, substitute old poles and the and carry out maintenance every year. 

Bji Katso Uesu MP, Lhendup Wangdi, asked the minister about the inconsistency regarding the permits for collecting of non-wood forest products as per the Forest and Nature Conservation Act 2023. 

He said that the non-forest products (nardostachys/pangpoi) listed in Schedule 2 of the Forest and Nature Conservation Act 2023 were permitted to be collected by paying tax but, on the other hand, the department had also declared that items listed in schedule 2 as illegal.

“The two clauses in the Act and the declaration are not compatible,” he said.

Minister said that the ministry was in the process of reviewing the guidelines.

Kuensel | Yangyel Lhaden | June 12, 2024

Shangsa village in Lunana is set to benefit from clean and reliable energy by August this year. 

The work is underway to install a solar system for the 10 households of the village.

Shangsa will be the second village out of thirteen villages in Lunana to receive power. Ramina village, which is connected to a road, received hydroelectricity last year.

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources found it technically unfeasible to provide hydropower throughout Lunana due to challenges related to extending the electricity grid. It is now exploring a solar system as an alternative to hydroelectricity.

The contract to install the solar system in Shangsa was awarded last November. Underground cable laying, house wiring, ground levelling, and the construction of footings and control room have been completed. The project is now waiting for the supply of solar modules, batteries, and other components for installation.

Shangsa is one of the remotest villages in Lunana. Located at about 3,400 metres above sea level, it is about eight days on foot from the nearest road point at Tonshina in Laya gewog. Currently, like other villages in Lunana, Shangsa has only solar lighting, which is capable of lighting homes and charging phones.

“People in Shangsa are excited at the prospect of clean energy, and we remain grateful,” Lunana Gup Kaka said. “However, electrification in Lunana has been slow, with only a few pockets benefiting, representing only about five percent of the entire region.”

He said that while all 20 dzongkhags and 204 gewogs have been electrified and have road access, the majority of Lunana is still in darkness. He added, “There is an urgent need for all of Lunana to get access to electricity due to health concerns for women and children from their exposure to firewood smoke and the hardship of collecting firewood from the forest, which often takes days of walking.”

Bhutan has achieved almost 99.9 percent of electrification, but Lunana gewog still does not have access to the grid, being one of the remotest gewogs in the country without road access, except for Ramina.

An official from the Department of Energy said electrifying Lunana was challenging for several reasons. He said the lack of road made transportation expensive, requiring airlifting by helicopter, which is impractical for heavy loads.

Moreover, helicopter services were costly and highly dependent on weather conditions, with a limited operational period each year. The official said, “Most solar components need to be imported, causing delays due to external factors. Moreover, finding local workers is difficult as many residents are engaged in cordyceps collection.”

The 30 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar system in Ramina will be off-grid, meaning it is not connected to the national grid. It will have a battery to store electricity for use at night. 

“The energy department is continuously exploring funds from various funding agencies for the electrification of the remaining 12 villages,” the official said. 

At the same time, the energy department is exploring funding support to develop a mini hydro plant in Lunana, which could potentially reduce reliance on batteries for storage and enhance the reliability of supply.

The solar system in Ramina is funded by Bhutan for Life. The Nu 19.78 million project is implemented by the Department of Energy.

Meanwhile, Tshojong village, where the film Yak in the Classroom was shot, got a five kWp off-grid solar plant in 2022 with funding support from a couple, Mr and Mrs Carol Phelps.