1,320-MW Bangladesh-China power plant on cards

As part of government's plan to bring all people under electricity network, Bangladesh and China would install a 1,320- MW coal fired power plant in joint venture at Payra.

"The government is very much optimistic to bring the entire country under cent percent power coverage by 2021 and we have undertaken various projects to ensure energy security in the country," State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said today.

He said the state-owned Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) and Chinese state-owned Norinco International Ltd would install the power plant in the vicinity of Payra seaport.

According to the project profile, this would be a two-unit ultra super critical cola fired power plant costing $ 2 billion with 50:50 share equity.

The first unit having generation capacity of 660-MW would come into operation in 2022, while the second unit would go for generation in 2023, the project details said. 

Talking to BSS, managing director of RPCL Md Abdus Sabur said the authorities concerned have already received vetting and clearance for finalizing the joint venture company.

"We expect that the joint venture company would be registered by September this year after getting approval of the cabinet," he said. 

Abdus Sabur said the RPCL has sent the proposal to the power ministry for approval of the cabinet. The state minister said the government has undertaken various multipurpose projects for generating electricity to bring all citizens under power coverage by 2021 through coordinated programmes in the power and energy sector.

"The present government is pledged-bound to supply electricity uninterrupted to all citizens within 2021 by way of materializing the Vision- 2021 with over 80 percent people already enjoying power facility now," he said.

Nasrul said the government has a target to achieve 24,000-MW electricity generation capacity by 2021 aimed at improving living and livelihood condition of the poor and other vulnerable communities.

Source: bss