The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Construction of the 240 MW Siddhirganj peaking power plant is likely to be completed by December next.

According to official sources, about 75 percent installation works of the proposed power plant has already been completed and the rest of the works will be finished within next few months.

Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB), a newly created state-owned public limited company, is implementing the project with a view to feeding the power-hungry national grid during the peak hours.

EGCB officials said that their Indian turnkey contractor -Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) - has been working in full swing with a target to get the plant ready by the stipulated time.

A top EGCB official said most of the civil construction and engineering works of the plant were done. Now, the installation of gas turbine of the 1st unit is

taking place.

He informed that gas turbines and other major equipments are coming from the world famous General Electric (GE).

He said that one of the turbines and a generator have already reached the project site for installation, while another turbine is now being refurbished in the GE's franchise manufacturing plant in India. Another generator is now on the way to Bangladesh.

The second gas turbine met with an accident while being shipped for Bangladesh from the Indian city of Hyderabad. After thorough investigation by the insurance company Lloyds, the second turbine will reach the country by October.

EGCB officials are hopeful that if the installation works go with the current pace, the plant would be able to produce electricity in full swing from the beginning of the next summer.

If the Siddhirganj plant could come into operation within the stipulated time, then it would be a great achievement of the present caretaker government, as the contract was signed just after their assumption of office in January 2007.

The officials said that this plant was mainly designed to supply additional electricity to Dhaka city and its adjoining areas during the peak hours.

"So, after installation of the plant, the power supply situation in Dhaka city will substantially improve with load shedding declining," one EGCB official told UNB.