Bangladesh grid gets 170MW boost

Two quick rental power plants on a `test run` basis added 170MW to the Bangladesh national grid in February.

"We are getting 100 MW from Desh Energy's Shiddhirganj plant and 70 MW from  Aggreko's quick rental plants in Khulna.

However, we will formally inaugurate these plants soon, "  Power Development Board Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir said.

PDB officials said another 550 MW would be added to the national grid next month out of the total of 800 MW power expected to come into the national grid from the quick rental projects.

Three power plants at Ashuganj, two in Chittagong and one in Feni would go into operation by April this fiscal.

"Nowapara 40 MW power plant, another quick rental, would come into play before May", a power division official said.

As per the election pledge, the government took up plans to add 9,426 MW power to the national grid by 2015.

According to PDB, 920 MW would be added to the national grid in 2011; 2,269 MW in 2012; 1,675 MW in 2013; 1,170MW in 2014 and 2,600 MW in 2015.