The coal-fired Rampal Power Plant in Bagerhat has finally started commercial production, adding 660MW of electricity to the national grid produced from its first unit.
The electricity generated in the first unit was commercially connected to the national grid from Saturday night.
Another 660MW of electricity generated from the second unit is likely to be connected to the national grid in June 2023, sources said.
Anwarul Azim, deputy manager of Rampal power plant, said: “660MW of electricity is being produced from the first unit. Out of this, 400MW is being supplied to Dhaka's national grid through Aminbazar in Gopalganj and 260MW is being supplied to Khulna-Bagerhat.”
He added: “Already 79.35% of the work of the second unit has been completed. If everything goes well, the work of the second unit of 660MW will be completed by June 2023.”
Sheikh Moazzem Hossain, chairman of Rampal upazila parishad, said: “Rampal and Bagerhat residents have started getting the benefits of Rampal power plant. As a result, the people of the areas will get uninterrupted electricity.”
Rabindra Kumar, chief technical officer of Rampal power station, said: “We are gradually increasing the operation of the machine. If our second unit is commissioned, it will play a role in meeting the local electricity demand as well as the national electricity demand.”
Syed Ekram Ullah, managing director of Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Limited, said: "We have started supplying electricity commercially. All technical work has been done keeping in mind the environmental aspects. This power plant will further strengthen the friendship between the two countries and will play a role in the development of the area.”
The electricity generated at the Rampal Coal Power Plant will be supplied to Khulna through the Gopalganj transmission line. Later, when power generation begins in the second unit, electricity will be supplied to Dhaka across the Padma River.
Rampal's power plant will be connected to Dhaka through a 400kV transmission line which is under construction from Gopalganj to Aminbazar.