Seven power plants in the north soon

The present government has started setting up seven power plants in six northern districts under Rajshahi division, which aimed at minimising power shortage.

Chief Engineer of Northern Distribution Division under Power Development Board (PDB) Latifur Rahman told the news agency yesterday that tender documents were already received and evaluation works of those are progressing.

He said additional 370 megawatt power will be added to the national grid on successful completion of the construction works, which will help fulfil power demands in the 16 northern districts on a large scale.

Of the total seven, four stations will be established with the government's own expenditures, while the three others will be on rental basis.

Rahman hoped the stations will go on generation by March 2011. He said the rental stations are 50-megawatt each at Thakurgaon, Syedpur under Nilphamari and at Katakhali in Rajshahi.

The government will purchase the generated electricity from these stations and will supply those to consumers at a subsidised rate.

Besides, the state-owned stations are 50-megawatt each at Katakhali of Rajshahi Santaher of Bogra, Baghabari of Sirajganj.

Land of the Railway Department has been selected for setting up power plant in Santahar.

He said additional gas will not be provided for operating any more power plants. So, there is no alternative to furnace oil, diesel or coal to generate electricity.

The PDB engineer said the government has taken up this programme for setting up furnace oil based rental power plants that will solve the region's existing power crisis within the next two years.

As part of this, construction of another coal-based 125-megawatt power unit is at final stage at Barapukuria. It is expected to go into production next year.

The diesel-run power plants will start generating furnace oil-based electricity by next March, Rahman added.

At present, he said the PDB supplies around 420 to 450 megawatt power to the 16 northern districts through the national grid against the daily average demand for 700 megawatts.

To bring balance in production with the demand, 300 megawatt more power will be added to the new regional gridline.

On the other hand, he mentioned that the government has also approved a proposal for establishing six more 33-kilovolt power sub-stations each in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Pabna, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts.