The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Four gas-based power plants are likely to be converted to dual-fuel system to run by using imported liquid fuels from next month for unimpeded production of much-needed electricity, official sources said.

These are the existing 110-MW NEPC power plant at Haripur in Narayanganj and the newly installed 50-MW Shikalabaha plant in Chittagong and two units, each having 120-MW capacity, of the under-construction Siddhirganj power plant.

Official sources said Petrobangla's reluctance to ensure adequate gas supply prompted the PDB to move for the dual-fuel power plants.

"We've already decided to convert these plants to dual-fuel plants because of gas crisis," said Tapan Kumar Chowdhury, Member (generation) of the state-owned Power Development Board (PDB).

He, however, said the plant of NEPC, which is an independent power producer (IPP), was initially install as a dual-fuel one in 1997. But later the plant was operated as gas-fired when gas was available for it.

"Now, again we are going to run it with liquid fuel," he added.

On the other hand, he said, Shikalbaha and Siddhirganj plants were originally designed as gas-fired plants. But now the two are being converted to the dual system. The former will now run by using furnace oil while the latter with diesel as fuel.

Sources said after the conversion of the plants, their generation cost would go up substantially.

Normally, if any plant is run by gas, it costs Tk 2-2.5 to generate per-kilowatt-hour (per unit) electricity. But if it uses furnace oil, it costs Tk 8-10 for per unit while Tk 15-18 per unit for a diesel-run plant. Generation cost for coal-based plant is considered to be Tk 4-5 a unit.

From this calculation, it is believed that the government has to provide huge amounts of money in subsidy to run the plants.

After assuming office in January, the present government thought that all the future power plants across the country, excepting in the Sylhet region, should be dual-fuel as a severe gas crisis prevails in the country amid a growing demand.

Only in the Sylhet region, which boasts of having several gas fields, there will be gas-run power plants. A recently constructed spur pipeline in the Jalalabad Gas Field resolved the crisis in Sylhet, which at the moment faces no gas shortage.

According to the sources, Petrobangla in a recent joint meeting at the power and energy ministry expressed its inability to provide gas supply for any new power plants.

But the PDB has a number of power plants under construction both in public and private sectors, and several of them are scheduled to be commissioned by December this year and some others by 2012 and 2014.

The power plants, scheduled for commissioning by December 2009 with a total generation capacity of 750-800 MW, require about 200 million cubic feet (MMCF) of gas per day.

The plants include 90-MW Fenchuganj, 50-MW Fenchuganj (3-year rental), 50- MW Fenchuganj (15-year rental), 240-MW Siddhirganj peaking plant, 22-MW Barabkunda, 33-MW Jangalia (Comilla), 33-MW Rupganj (Narayanganj), 20-MW Bogra and 34-MW Bhola plant.

But the Petrobangla authorities ensured gas supply only for four plants - three in Fenchuganj under Sylhet region and one in Bhola. These plants will require about 50-MMCF gas per day.

Meanwhile, PDB officials said power generation increased to 4,182 megawatts Saturday, breaking its previous record of 4,162 MW on May 1 this year.