Bangladesh power master plan sputters

Most of Bangladesh's midterm and long term power generation initiatives are stuck in uncertainties for lack of finance and fuel supply assurances.

The country's Power System Master Plan 2010 targets 16,000MW new power addition by 2016 and 20,000 MW by 2021. Of these 8750 MW power is planned to be generated from coal alone by 2021. 17 large plants are planned to come into commercial operation by 2014.

However, about 3000 MW capacity plants are encountering challenges of financial closure. World Bank and JAICA recently refused to finance some plants as on their assessment contracted power tariff appeared inadequate. The implementation of 1300MW imported coal based power plant at environment sensitive location in the proximity of World Heritage Sundarban at Rampal Bagerhat is suffering from lack of meeting of minds of NTPC and PDB.

Government signed contracts for 57 plants totaling about 3000MW power plants. Implementation of about 2000MW capacity power plants has now become uncertain. World Bank has recently regretted to finance two large power plants at Bibiyana. JAICA has also withdrawn from Bheramara 360 MW plant.

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