The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Faridpur

The government is going to set up a number of small capacity power generation plants across the country to meet the nagging power shortage which is hampering the development and overall economic activities.

According to a Power Development Board (PDB) source, the government has a plan to set up 18 power plants in different parts of the country by 2011 to add 1,350 MW additional power to the national grid.

Of the total power plants, eight will be on rental basis set up by the private companies and their collective power generation will be 530 MW while 10 plants will be set up in public sector to generate 820 MW of electricity.

The government will have to purchase power from the private companies at a higher rate but will sale it to the consumers at a subsidized price to keep the pace of development unhindered, the source added.

The rental power stations will be set up at Thakurgaon-50 MW, Syedpur-50 MW, Jamalpur-30 MW, Katakhali (Rajshahi)-50 MW, Bheramara-100 MW, Madanganj (Narayanganj)-100 MW, Noapara (Jessore)-100 MW and Barisal-50 MW.

The 10 other plants in the public sector will be set up at Shantahar- 50 MW, Katakhali (Rajshahi)-50 MW, Baghabari-50, Bera- 70 MW, Ghorashal-200 MW, Faridpur-50 MW, Gopalganj-100 MW, Titas (Comilla)-50 MW, Hathazari-100 MW and Dohazari-100 MW totalling 820 MW of electricity to be added in the national grid.

The 50 MW Faidpur power plant will be set up at Chandipur, in the suburb of the town on Dhaka-Khulna highway. The required land for the purpose is under process of acquisition by the district administration.

The PDB source said that the pre-bid meeting of the rental power projects was held yesterday at the PDB headquarter yesterday. The intending bidders will submit their bidding on October 22 next. The successful bidders will be awarded contracts on November 19 next and the contracts will be signed on November 30 of the current year.

The source said that the diesel operated rental plants will go into operation by March next year while the furnace oil run plants will start power generation in August next year. The source said that the PDB has submitted a draft project proposal on the schemes to the government for approval. The PDB as per commitment of the present government will take necessary measures to generate additional 5000 MW electricity by 2013.