The under construction 70 megawatt power plant in Bera upazila of Pabna. The plant is likely to go into production in the middle of next month.Photo: STAR

A 70-megawatt (MW) power plant is expected to go into production and add power to the national grid within mid-September.
More than 90 percent construction work has been completed and rest of the work would be finished within this month, engineer Priyatosh Chowdhury of Power Development Board (PDB), also the in-charge of the power plant, told this correspondent.
A 168-hour long test operation would start next month before going into full production, he said.
The new power plant would add power to the national grid which manages load across the country. But the region would be given priority in this project reducing its load shedding to a significant extent, he added.
Hundai Heavy Industries Company Limited of South Korea started the construction of the power plant under PDB supervision in Bera pumping station area on August 5 last year. The company was scheduled to complete the project within 450 days.
Known as Bera 70 Megawatt Rental Power Plant, the project will be completed at a cost of Tk 542 crore.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate its operation, officials said.
People of Bera, Sujanagar, Santhia and Pabna Sadar are likely to have a little relief from power outages after its operation, expect the power department experts.
“We are optimistic that the PDB will give priority to increased power supply to Pabna and Sirajganj districts after the plant's take off of operation,” Harendranath Barman, deputy manager of Rural Electrification Board (REB), Pabna-2 said.
At least 30 megawatt power is needed during peak hour every day under the two divisions of REB-2 although only 15 to 16 megawatt supply is available, he said adding that the new power plant might increase 5 to 6 megawatt supply to the area.