The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamim Jahangir

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate newly installed gas- fired Siddhirganj Power Plant (SPP) unit-1 having capacity to generate 120MW electricity on February 14.

The SPP was unable to get the required gas supply assurance from Petrobangla to generate electricity till filing of this report yesterday.

Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB), the controlling authority of the SPP, wrote a letter to Petrobangla requesting to ensure 50 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) gas to generate 240MW electricity from two units of the power plant three months back.

Replying to their request, Petrobangla said it was not possible to supply 50mmcfd gas to the two units of the power plant due to gas crisis.

EGCB Managing Director AMM Mortaza Ali yesterday met with Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Bir Bikram and State Minister for Power and Energy Brig Gen (Retd) Muhammed Enamul Huq and informed them of the matter.

After meeting, the EGCB will send a fresh letter to Petrobangla to ensure gas supply to the power plant today, sources said.

Responding to a question from The New Nation yesterday, Power Development Board (PDB) Chairman ANM Alamgir Kabir Chowdhury said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate a unit of the Siddhirganj power plant on February 14."

He said that the PDB was not getting gas supply assurance for the power plant yesterday. "I am hopeful to get gas for the plant immediately," the PDB chief said.

He added that another unit of the plant having capacity to generate 120MW electricity within next month as the second unit is being installed.

Replying to another question, Alamgir Kabir said that the PDB has a plan to convert the power plant into dual-fuel due to gas crisis.

PDB had estimated that an additional fund of around Tk 200 crore to convert the plant into dual-fuel and install the facilities to store diesel earlier. But it now stands at Tk 300 crore, sources said.

PDB installed the Siddhirganj Peaking Power Plant at a cost of Tk 1133 crore.

The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited in January 2007 got the $113 million turnkey contract from the EGCB to install the two-unit plant and it was supposed to go for commercial operation on November 7, 2008. It failed as the company could not install the plant in time.