Cabinet okays 258MW solar power plant projects

Cabinet committee on public purchase has given nod to the proposals on setting up four solar power plants to produce a total of 258 megawatt in different places across the country with a cost Tk9,158 crore for next 20 years. The proposals have been approved in a cabinet meeting presided by finance minister AMA Muhith. Additional secretary to the cabinet division Mostafizur Rahman told that four consortiums were likely to get the contracts to set up four solar plants in different parts across the country to meet the growing demand of electricity. As per the proposal, the government will buy 258MW electricity from the consortiums for next 20 years after the plants start their operation. The consortium of Energon Technologies FZE of the UAE and China Sunergy will set up a 100MW solar power plant at Borodurgapur mouja in Mongla, Bagerhat under build own operate (BOO) mode. The government will buy per unit electricity at Tk11.04 and total cost in 20 years will be Tk3,578.28 crore. The joint venture of Paragon Poultry and Parasol Energy Ltd Bangladesh and Symbior Solar of Hong Kong will establish an 8MW solar power plant at Tetulia upazila in Panchagarh. The government will buy per unit electricity at Tk10.40 from the plant with a total cost of Tk268.80 crore in 20 years. The consortium of Hanwha 63 City Company, BJ Power Company and Solar City Bangladesh Power Company will set up a 50MW solar power plant at Ghosh Para upazila, Tangail. Consortium of Zhejiang DunAn New Energy company ltd,China National Machinery Import and export Corporation,Solar Tech Power Ltd and Amity Solar Ltd will set 100 MW power plant in Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat. It will cost a total of Tk 3628cr in next 20 years as the government has decided to buy per unit electricity at Tk11.20 from their plant. In the Seventh Five Year Plan (2016-2020), the government was pledged to reach the target of 2000MW or 10% of overall power production capacity to be generated from renewable sources by 2020. Currently, the country has a total power generation capacity of 15,351MW.