Country’s largest gas-based IPP at Meghnaghat on track despite pandemic

The 718 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant project at Meghnaghat (on the outskirts of Dhaka) -- the country's largest gas-based Independent Power Producer (IPP) being set up by Reliance Bangladesh LNG & Power Limited -- has made significant progress despite the ongoing pandemic.

Contradicting a UNB report released on November 15, Reliance in a recent statement said the project at Meghnaghat has "made significant progress" despite the pandemic.

In September 2019, the company signed agreements with the Bangladesh government to build, own and operate the power plant at Meghnaghat, some 40km away from Dhaka. The project is due to achieve commercial operation within 36 months of signing the agreements, save for delays pursuant to the ongoing pandemic that all projects have been facing.

A total of four contracts were signed by the company with different entities of the government to implement the project. Of the four agreements, officials said, the Power Division signed the implementation agreement, state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board inked the power purchase agreement and land lease agreement, while Titas, a gas distribution company of Petrobangla, signed the gas supply agreement.

The project has made substantial progress with regards to financing and engineering, procurement and construction. The company signed agreements for arranging USD 642 million in financing from reputed development financing institutions. Asian Development Bank will provide loans of up to USD 200 million, Japan Bank for International Cooperation will provide USD 265 million and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance the remaining USD 177 million.

The company has also signed an agreement with General Electric (GE), which is going to supply major equipment to the project, and appointed Samsung C&T as its Engineering, Procurement, & Construction (EPC) contractor to build the gas-fired power plant.

The government will purchase electricity from the project for a 22-year period. The project will use imported re-gasified liquefied natural gas (R-LNG) for generating electricity, which will be supplied by state-owned Petrobangla.

JERA Co. Inc. (the largest utility company in Japan) and Reliance Power Limited (one of the largest private generation companies from India), through their step-down subsidiary, will be jointly developing the 718 MW (net) gas fired combined cycle power project at Meghnaghat, Narayanganj.