Freelance Energy/Power Consultant
Self Employed
Total years of experience :33 years, 10 Months
The Technical Director is mandated for the overall management of the Technical Matters of WENRECo in coordination with the Acting CEO of WENRECo and the Board Directors. Over and above the normal mandate, the following task were achieved:
Prepared and submitted to Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), Uganda, the Project Proposals as part of the Tariff Review Submission in February 2020, and most of which got approved in the tariff by ERA.
Guided the Loss Reduction Project team and reduced the energy loss from 24% (2016) to 17 % in 2020, and then to 14% by April 2021.
Implemented the Installation of Distribution Transformer (DT) Energy Meter using Smart Energy Meters, and also implemented the Installation of Smart Customer Pre-paid meters. The DT meters are now helping WENRECo in energy auditing and transformer loading & power reliability management.
Inspection of the Nyagak-1, 3.5 MW hydroelectric power plant in April 2021. This was done to ensure that the plant is safe for operation after 8 years of its commissioning. The Dam, tunnel, penstock and all the electrical & Mechanical parts of the plant were inspected and necessary action done for its safe operation.
Co-ordination with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Government of Uganda, related to distribution network expansion project done by REA in the West Nile Region.
Joint Inspection of the Distribution lines and substations done by REA in West Nile Region.
Co-ordination with the Local/Regional Government Officers, International Agencies, and the industries and other commercial business Entrepreneurs related to power supply in West Nile.
Carry our Corporate Social Responsibility as per the company policy.
On the job training of technical staff.
Guided the Acting CEO (who was a Financial Person) in all matters of the company (like administrative, strategic planning and technical matters).
Operation & Maintenance of the 33 kV lines, LV (415 Volts) lines and 33/LV substations (16KVA, 63 KVA, 100KVA, 200KVA, 315 KVA, 500 KVA).
Operation & Maintenance of the 3.5 MW, Nyagak-1, HEP Plant.
Head of Human Resource and Administration Department.
Report to the CEO and the Board of Directors.
Liaising with all the Bhutan Government Offices at Samdrup Jongkhar, Ministry of Labour & Human Resources at Thimphu, and other relevant stack holders.
Final HR Policy.
Procurement Policy.
Construction worker recruitment from India.
Company HR recruitment from Bhutan & India.
Planning, budgeting and construction of 33kV line power supply line (3 km).
Supervision at the ABHL construction site at Motanga, Samdrup Jongkhar.
Overall Management of the company as the CEO, and report to the Board of Directors at Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), Nairobi, Kenya. WENRECo is one of the companies owned by IPS.
The performance Management of a total of 100 (one hundred) employees in the company.
Responsible for Generation of Electricity at the 3.5 MW Nyagak-1 HEP Plant, Transmit/Distribute at 33 kV (MV line) & 415 volts (LV line), 50Hz frequency, and sale of electricity in the 9 Districts (Pakwach, Nebbi, Zomboo, Madi-Okollo, Arua, Maracha, Tergo, Koboko & Yumbe) out of the 11 Districts in the West Nile Region of UGANDA. The power for the other two districts (Moyo & Adjumani) are directly fed from the UEDCL’s own distribution network.
Distribute and sale of electricity in a safe and reliable manner, and in compliance to the regulations of the Electricity Regulating Authority (ERA) of UGANDA and other applicable law.
Maintaining good public relation with the local authorities/customers.
Liaise with the Donor/Financers, Electricity Regulating Authority (ERA), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development (MEMD), Local Districts/village authorities, and other stack holders.
KRAs:
Achieving operational/project objectives by contributing information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews.
Preparing & completing action plans, implementing production, productivity, quality, and customer service standards.
Accountable for resolving problems, completing audits, identifying trends, determining system improvements as well as implementing change in the process.
Study, propose business development plans based on cost befit analysis, etc.
Reduced energy loss from 24 % (2015) to 17% (2017) by initiating Loss Reduction Project (LRP) team.
Successfully completed KfW funded PPM Project of connecting 3000 prepaid customers to the grid supply.
Successfully converted conversion of 3000 postpaid customers to prepaid system through the KfW funded PPM Project.
Constructed 3.5 km of 33 kV line extension from the nearest 33kV line to the Merdian Tobacco Company Limited (MTC) and also helped MTC with a 33/0.415 kV, (500 KVA x 3) temporary substation while the construction of their own substation was under process but delayed. This has helped both MTC (the Customer) and WENRECo (the Power Utility) as the Customer was connected to the grid supply in June 2016, although their own substation was commissioned in January 2017. MTC supplied the materials for the construction of the 3.5km 33kV line while WENRECo constructed the line at no cost to MTC.
Planned and completed the GIS Mapping of the 33 kV lines and 33/0.415kV substations. However, GIS mapping of the LV lines could not be done due to lack of proper maps that time.
With the improved SOP of new service connection, the number of customers got increased from 4000 (December 2015) to more than 9000 by November 2017.
Conducted Training Need Assessment (TNA) for the company, and accordingly.
Instituted in-house staff training which was not done before. This has helped HR development through knowledge sharing.
Further, started in campus training on Safety Management System, firefighting and first aid by hiring external experts from within Uganda.
The company’s energy sales got increased with the addition of MTC, improved SOP in new service connection, improved power reliability, and reduced energy loss. Thus, the company saw profit for the first time in January 2017 since its establishment in March 2003.
The DCSD looks after management of all the power distribution infrastructures in Bhutan.
Overall Management of the Department and report to the Managing Director and also the Board of Directors.
Implementation of Performance Management System (PMS) for the total of 1335 employees under DCSD, which is almost 50% of the BPC’s HR population. This includes 4 Regional Directors, 19 Divisional Managers located in the districts, 1 Manager of Urban Electrification Division, 1 Manager at the Central Maintenance & Training Division, and 3 Managers directly attached with the GM’s office.
Responsible for Generation of electricity (internal generation up to 18 MW) & also import of energy from the Generation Company-Druk Green Power Corporation Limited (DGPC).
Transmit/Distribute and sale of electricity in the entire country in a safe and reliable manner, and in compliance to the regulations of the Bhutan Electricity Authority (BEA) and other applicable law.
Maintaining good public relation with the Government Ministries/Offices, District authorities and customers.
KRAs:
Achieving operational/project objectives by contributing information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews.
Preparing & completing action plans, implementing departmental projects, quality control of projects, and customer service standards.
Accountable for resolving problems, completing audits, identifying trends, determining system improvements as well as implementing change in the process.
Study, propose business development plans based on cost befit analysis, etc.
Reduced energy losses in various districts and maintained the distribution loss in Bhutan at 5%.
Conducted TNA for DCSD and trained the relevant employee accordingly.
Proper succession planning for DCSD.
Introduced the Smart phone to be used as the spot billing device and replaced the costly sport billing Hand Held device.
Introduced the concept of Village Technicians to take care of the line/substation maintenance and meter reading of rural villages and saved cost for BPC.
Guided and monitored the construction of office & staff qtr., 33kV lines, 11 kV lines, LV ABC (415 volts) lines; 33/11 kV substations (1.5 MVA, 3 MVA, 5 MVA, 10 MVA), 33/LV (16 KVA to 2 MVA) & 11KV/LV (16 KVA to 2 MVA). This was done starting from the feasibility studies, project planning and appraisals, detail engineering & design, tendering, to actual site Installation/construction. A single project cost ranged from USD 200, 000.00 to USD 1 to 5 million and above depending on the type of project implemented.
Dual Job responsibility handled in addition to the Job of GM-DCSD, BPC:
(1) Project Director, JICA TCP-II (JICA funded), BPC.
Successfully implemented & achieved the targets of the JICA funded Project (JICA Technical Cooperation for Improvement of Efficiency for Rural Power Supply Phase-II (JICA TCP-II).
(2) Project Director, 600 KW Pilot Wind Power Project (ADB funded), BPC:
Successfully planned & started the installation of the 300 KW X 2 = 600 KW, pilot wind power project funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) as grand. The actual site installation of the project was started in July 2014 and it was under progress while I was leaving for work at WENRECo, Uganda. And it was completed and commissioned in February 2016.
The Acting Superintending Engineer's position was a dual responsibility in addition to the job of the Senior Project Manager, Puna-I, 400kV Double Circuit Transmission Line Project, Division-II.
Overall management of the construction of two numbers of 400kV, double circuit, transmission line as a deposit work by BPC for the Puna-1 Hydroelectric Project Authority (PHPA-1). Report to the Project Director at Transmission Wing, BPC, and also to the Managing Director, BPC, and PHPA1 Management.
Plan and monitor the performance of the Project Division Offices at Kamichhu, Dagapela and Lhamoy Zingkha, in Bhutan.
Liaise with the Project Contractors, District Officials, local village leaders/villagers, PHPA-1 Management, BPC Head Qtr, etc.
Review/Approval of project documents and drawings in collaboration with the Engineering, Design & Contracts Department (EDCD), BPC.
Conduct monthly project review/progress meeting, etc.
KRAs:
Steered overall management of the project including co-ordination jobs with BPC Head Quarter, PHPA1 Management & Other Agencies.
Designed project baselines; monitored the same with respect to cost, time over-runs and quality compliance to ensure satisfactory execution of the assignments.
Review/Approval of project documents and or drawings in co-ordination with the Engineering, Design & Contracts Department (EDCD), BPC, within 15 days from the date of receipt of the documents/drawings.
Conduct factory inspection of the project materials before it is delivered from the factory.
Ensure that the project construction works are carried out in compliance with the Environmental law of the country.
Ensure that the project construction works are done in a safe way (safety to workers and public/animals).
Ensure that the project is progressing as per the schedule and if not suggest actions to overcome the weakness.
Reviewed & approved the drawings and documents submitted by the project contractors in coordination with the Project Consultant and Engineering, Design & Contract Department (EDCD).
Inspected & monitored tower foundation digging, foundation casting, etc.
Overall management of the construction of two numbers of 400kV, double circuit, transmission line section (from Drujegang to Khalikhola) as a deposit work by BPC for the Puna-1 Hydroelectric Project Authority (PHPA-1). Report to the Superintending Engineer at the project main office, Lobesa, and also to Project Director at Transmission Wing, BPC.
Plan and monitor the performance of the Project Division’s construction works like staff house construction, road construction and the 400kV TL construction.
Liaise with the Project Contractors, District Officials, local village leaders/villagers, PHPA-1 Management, Project main office at Lobesa, BPC Head Office, etc.
Conduct monthly project review/progress meeting, etc.
KRAs:
Took care of the entire management tasks of the Project Division Office viz. Office Management, Construction of Road / Staff Quarters and Site Development Works; conducted survey of the 400kV PTLP, liaised with District/village Authorities.
Assisted the Superintending Engineer of 400 kV TL project on the preparation of the tender document for the 400 kV TL Project.
Evaluated techno-commercial bids for the 400 kV TL project as part of the Bid Evaluation Team.
Drafted tender evaluation report; presented the CTC/BPC and finalization of the tender.
Looked after issuance of LOA to the Lowest Evaluated Bidder (LEB); developed Contract Agreement Document and Signed-Off Contract Agreement.
Planned & organized the Kickoff Meeting with the LEB.
Planning & Feasibility studies for all Transmission line & substation projects for BPC, under the directive of the Director of Transmission Wing and also the Managing Director, BPC.
Review and report to the Director regarding the project progress reports of all the projects under Transmission Wing, BPC.
KRAs:
Coordinated internal resources and third parties/vendors for the flawless execution of projects; ensured that all projects are delivered on-time, within scope and within budget.
Developed project scopes and objectives, involving all relevant stakeholders and ensured technical feasibility.
Managed the following works at the Transmission Wing, BPC, Thimphu during the year 2009.
Preparation of tender documents for new projects & contract agreement document.
Organized Corporate Tender Committee (CTC) & Board Tender Committee (BTC) Meetings; prepared Minutes of the Meetings.
Conducted Project Review Meetings (PRM); prepared the Minutes of Meeting.
Efficiently & effectively conducted material inspection at factories in India; reviewed inspection reports. submitted by the Concerned Inspectors & Issuance of Dispatch Clearance.
Bridged a gap between:
Project Offices/Divisions and Contractors/Suppliers; and Project Offices/Divisions and Other Agencies (Govt./Private) in Bhutan.
Actively involved in reviewing & approving of vendor/contractor drawings/designs in consultation with the Engineering, Design & Contracts Department (EDCD).
Provided assistance to the Superintending Engineer 400 kV Puna1 TL project on the preparation of the Tender Document for Project.
Pivotal in evaluating the techno-commercial bids for the 400 kV Puna1 T.L. project as member of the Bid Evaluation Team.
The Engineering, Design & Contracts Department (EDCD) in BPC is mandated to provide technical guidance (like a consultancy firm) to other Departments in the company, and also review & approve documents/drawings related to projects within BPC.
KRAs
Developed a detailed project plan to track progress; used appropriate verification techniques to manage changes in project scope, schedule and costs.
Measured project performance using appropriate systems, tools and techniques.
Planned & designed Distribution Network System Projects; reviewed & approved vendor drawings/documents submitted by other Department under BPC.
Steered initiatives towards administering Distributions Project without dependence on External Consultancy Services;
The 33/11KV substation at Chenary (Trashigang) was the first substation constructed by BPC without engaging consultant. Apart from the Electrical Layout planning for the substation, guided the Civil Engineers in the Design of the Control Room Building
Successfully revised the Electrical Schedule of Rates for Distribution Systems
Provided guidance to the JICA Consultants for JICA funded Rural Electrification projects on the preparation of technical specifications for Hardware Fittings for use with Covered Conductors proposed for the first time in Bhutan.
Reviewed the Rural Electrification Project (ADB/JICA) Material BoQ and accordingly advised the Rural Electrification Department (RED) and Procurement Services Department (PSD).
Performed a research study on the Improvement of Earthing System in Distribution network in collaboration with the Central Maintenance and Training Division (CMTD), BPC.
Functioned as the Distribution Engineer and mentored & guided colleagues from EDCD, Rural Electrification Department (RED), Procurement Services Department (PSD) and Electricity Services Divisions (ESDs) and the Distribution & Customer Services Department (DCSD) on Design & Specification, Estimation & Costing issues related to Distribution Systems
Reviewed diagrams, schematic/electrical engineering drawings, layouts, technical specifications & cost estimates; analyzed contractor's order proposals & submittals.
Liaised with Site Execution Team & other departments in the organization; created the initial plan, estimated the total resource required for execution of the project and organized the same for smooth site operations.
Formulated the initial cost budget of project, reviewing the monthly cost, taking the corrective action and presenting it to the higher management.
Designed Distribution Network System Projects, reviewed & approved vendor drawings/documents submitted by other Departments under BPC.
Finalized the Draft Distribution Design & Construction Standard available with BPC for filed implementation.
Initiated and completed the design, estimation & costing of the 33 kV Double Circuit Line from Dajey (Tsirang) to Dagapela, Dagana. The line is now constructed and successfully commissioned.
The ESD, Samtse District, Bhutan, supplies power to all customers in Samtse. The ESD had 30 numbers of staff and more than 10, 000 customers in 2003.
KRAs:
Monitored overall management tasks viz. Technical, Financial & HR Matters of the Electricity Services Division, Samtse.
Took care of following activities:
O&M of 33 KV and 11 KV lines, and LV (415 volts) Distribution Lines.
Contract Management related to up gradation expansion of MV & LV Distribution Lines.
Shifting or re-location of MV & LV Distribution Lines.
Release of New Service Lines, Billing & Collection.
Extended technical support to DCSD Head Office in Thimphu.
Monitored overall management tasks viz. Technical, Financial & HR Matters of the Unit.
Running & Maintenance of the Computerized Billing System.
Release of New Service Lines within SOP.
Monthly Meter Reading & Bill Distribution, and bill collection.
Extended technical support to Divisional Manager, ESD -Thimphu, in Contract Management of Distribution Lines & substation up-gradation and New Construction Projects.
Carried out extensive inspection and rectification of customer service connection and changing of old customer meters with new ones, and reduced energy loss from 32 % (June 2002) to 19% by the end of December 2002. This was not done when the Unit was under DoP due to lack of funding.
Looks after the overall management of the Revenue Unit under the Electricity Services Division, Thimphu.
The Revenue Unit was responsible for new power service connection to customer, metering, billing & collection and other power services to the customers.
The RE-PIU, DoP, was entrsured to carry out the field execution of extending 33kV & 11kV power distribution grid to the feasibile Rural households across Bhutan, and construction of distribution substation (33/0.415kV; 11/0.415kV ) and LV (415Volts) ABC lines in respective village load centers.
The target during the 8th five year plan was to electrify about 6010 house holds in fifteen districts in Bhutan; and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was the funding Agency .
Activities Performed as the Project Engineer
(A) Feasibility Studies of the Project
(ADB TA # 29242)
The following activities were performed:
Coordinate meetings between the Project Consultants and the Relavent DoP Officials/and the Minsitry, other Ministries/Agencies and the Local Government Officials/staff.
Help the Consultants in the Prepration of Inseption Report.
Organise meeting with ADB Mission team and DoP Officials on the Inception Report.
Plan for the field visit for the Socio economic survey, house hold survey and the Distribution Line Route Survey.
Conduct the field survey, and organised meeting with DoP field team and Local Government team during the field survey.
Collection of existing Distribution Line route & subsation, load, etc, from the DoP field Offices.
GIS mapping of the existing distribution network and then add the porposed distribution network as per the field survey. The GIS mapping of existing Distribution network was not yet done, and thus it was done as part of the Project Feasibility Study.
Presentation of the GIS mapped data to the DoP Managers and field team to validate the GIS Mapped data.
Data analysis (socio economic & line routes) for the proposed rural villages/households.
Preparation of the Interim Report and submission to ADB & DoP for review/comments.
Detail Design & Engineering for the new network expansion.
Estimation of the Material BoQ as planned, and costing of the same.
Coordinate in training the DoP Engineers/Technicians by the Consultant.
Preparation of Draft poject Feasibility and discussion with ADB/DoP.
The Final Project Feasibiity report was accepted by ADB and scantioned a project loan of USD 10 million to finnace the procurement of materails for the project, while the Bhutan Government apporved to finance the project locat cost (Project Employees, transport and other associated cost).
Prepared tender documents for the procurement of project materials.
The respective filed Offices helped in obtaining Environment Clearence for the Project execution with the help of the RE-PIU.
Wrap-up meeting with ADB and DoP on the closing of the Project feasibility studies.
(B) Project Implementation
1. Preparation of Tender Document for the appointment of Project Consultant.
2. Publication of Notice Inviting Technical Proposal for the Consultancy Services.
3. Opening of Technical Proposals for the consultancy Services as per the ADB/DoP rule.
4. Evaluation of proposals received from various consulting firms for the project, and obtaining the Ministry’s Approval for the selected consulting firm.
5. Based on the evaluation report, the above mentioned Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), India, was selected for the project execution in the field.
6. Review of tender documents for the supply of project materials along with the TCE.
7. Evaluation of the bids received; presentation to DoP Commissioners and ADB for approval.
8. Placed supply order to the Best Evaluated bidder.
9. Conduct Factory Inspection for the materials.
10. Inspection of the materials at the RE- Main Stores, and then transfer to the respective project sites.
11. The actual site construction was done by the field divisions and the project office monitored the quality and time frame.
-Assembly of computers
-Repair & Maintenance of Computers and accessories
-Installation of operating System and other software
-etc.
Master in Engineering (Energy). Subjects studied were: -Renewable Energy Technology (RET) -Solar Energy -Energy Project Planning, Analysis & Appraisal -Demand Side Management -Rational Use of Energy -Solar Energy Design & Applications -Energy Auditing -Geographic Information System (GIS) -Energy Workshop -Energy Statistics & Demand Forecasting -Power Distribution System -Energy Management in Building.
4 years course in Electrical and Electronics Engineering
3 years Diploma course in Electrical Engineering .
