The power ministry has conditionally approved changing rental power plant configuration as proposed by two local rental power companies last month after winning the contracts.
Although such proposals are considered as violation of contractual terms, local companies Rahimafrooz and Otobi last month sought to change the configuration of their Thakurgaon 50MW and Noapara 105MW power plants.
Upon receiving their applications, the Power Development Board (PDB) forwarded those to the power ministry for approval.
The ministry last week approved the two proposals but said the change in plant equipment would be acceptable as long as it did not affect the power plants' heat rate or require extra land to install the plants or the deadline to begin commercial operation and would not cause a hike of power tariff.
Rahimafrooz bagged a 30MW power project in Jamalpur for five years and a 50MW diesel-fired project in Thakurgaon for three years. But after winning the deals, Rahimafrooz backed out from the Jamalpur project by paying a penalty.
The company signed its contract for the Thakurgaon project on February 4. But on February 17, it wrote to PDB about changing its diesel engine generator.
The company wrote that in the tender schedule it had quoted use of heavy duty diesel plant consisting 35 units of Caterpillar diesel generator. But due to delay in tender process, the company could not secure these units. Instead, it has secured 41 units of Mitsubishi equipment.
The Thakurgaon project is supposed to be commissioned in June.
Otobi that won Bheramara 110MW diesel and Noapara 105MW furnace oil projects signed the contracts on February 4.
On February 9, it wrote to PDB regarding its Noapara project saying originally it had proposed to build the plant as a combined cycle one, but instead it wanted to build it with "Reciprocating engines with co-generation facility".
The Noapara project is supposed to be commissioned in November.
The PDB had originally planned to sign agreements for eight rental power projects totalling 530MW within early December with a view to ensuring extra power supply during the Boro irrigation period from early March.