3 power plants get go-ahead

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Eenec) yesterday approved three power projects with a combined capacity of 715 megawatt (MW) aimed at meeting the growing demand for electricity in the capital and adjoining areas through local production.
The approvals came at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the National Economic Council (NEC) conference room in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
The projects include the construction of the Tk 4,239 crore Siddhirganj 335 MW combined cycle power plant (1st revised).
World Bank (WB) is expected to provide Taka 1,820 crore for the project. An official of the ministry said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her doubts at the meeting over whether WB will provide the fund or not. The PM said WB might suspend funding of the project questioning its transparency.
The prime minister instructed the relevant ministries to implement the project using government funds or through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative should there be no funds forthcoming from WB.
The planning ministry statement said, another power plant under the project 'Construction of Bhola 225 MW combined cycle power plant' will be established at Borhanuddin upazila of the district. The Borhanuddin-Patuakhali or the Borhanuddin-Barisal transmission network will be developed through a 132/230 KV transmission line with electricity coverage from the proposed plant.
The power plant will consume fuel from Bhola's Shahbajpur gas field.
A feasibility study has already been completed with technical assistance from the World Bank to implement the project estimated to cost Tk 2,060 crore. Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will provide Tk 1,378 crore of this cost, the statement said.
The statement further stated the project titled "Upgradation of Sirajganj 150 MW Peaking Power Plant to 225 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant" is estimated to be able to produce an additional 75 MW of electricity without the use of any additional fuel. This project involves a cost of Tk 679 crore.
The Ecnec meeting approved eight projects including the three power projects all involving a cost of Tk 9,393 crore.