Bangladesh to add 800MW to national grid in 2 months

Bangladesh will add another 800 megawatts of rental power to the national grid within the next two months.

“One or two quick rental projects have been slipped from the deadline. But we are not worried as they progressed well,” Power Division Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad said.

Clarifying the delay of 78MW Max Power Limited in Ghorasal, he informed that pirates robbed off a ship of the company, carrying equipments for the plant, in the outer anchorage of Chittagong port in January last year. Two generators were severely damage due to the incident, he said.

Ghulam M Alomgir, chairman of Max Power Limited, expressed his hope to start operating the plant from April 15-20. “Then we will generate 40MW electricity initially and will be able to produce another 38MW by the end of April,” he added.

The Bangladesh Power Development Board will purchase per unit of electricity at Tk 4.80 from the plant for three years.

State Minister for Power and Energy Mohammad Enamul Haque expressed his dissatisfaction over the slow progress in implementing the quick rental power plants.

“I am optimistic about the quick power plants and hope these would start operating in time. But if anyone miss the deadline then they will have to pay heavy penalty,” he cautioned project owners.

The government has already signed deals to generate 1488MW of electricity to ensure smooth power during boro irrigation but only one-third of the target has been produced so far.