State-owned North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) and Chinese Power Company CMC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to set up a large coal-based power plant project with the capacity to generate 1320 megawatt (MW) of electricity in Kalapara upazila, Patuakhali.
NWPGCL Managing Director A M Khurshedul Alam and CMC President Wamgs Shelg signed the MoU from the respective sides.
It is the second MoU after the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company which is going to set up a 1320MW coal-fired power plant at Rampal.
Prime Minister’s Power and Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Power Secretary Monowar Islam, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh and senior officials attended the signing function.
During signing the ceremony, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the government aim is to reach the electricy with the project at every door by 2021.”
The government has a plan to set up series of coal-fired power projects to generate 20,000MW of electricity by the year 2030.
The government has also set a target of 3,490 MW to be implemented by NWPGCL under this plan. Out of this 3,490 MW, only 2,640 MW will be coal based.
“This is why, to meet the prevailing demand of electricity, the company has no alternative other than taking joint venture initiation. To achieve the target, the company has taken a plan to install 2,640MW ultra supercritical coal based power plant in joint venture,” Managing Director of NWPGCL A M Khurshedul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune.
“For this purpose, the company intends to establish a joint venture with China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), China to set up a 1320 MW ultra super-critical coal based power plant at Patuakhali by importing coal,” he said.
“Only China’s state owned CMC has the experience to set up a sub critical coal based power plant in Barapukuria 250MW Thermal Power Plant,” he added.
The project site will be situated on the bank of the Rabnabad River near Paira Bandar. The project estimated cost is $2 billion.
The company has implemented two power plants, namely-Sirajganj 150 MW power plant and Khulna 150 MW power plant.
