Haripur Power launched as pilot PDB company

HARIPUR, Narayanganj, Jan 25: The Haripur Power Station Management Board (HPSMB) today made its debut as a pilot company of Bangladesh Power Development Board with the restructuring of the state-owned plant with more autonomy, reports BSS.

State Minister for Energy, Power and Mineral Resources Prof Rafiqul Islam launched the operation of HPSMB as a "strategic business unit" through decentralisation of the 100 mw unit in line with the government initiatives to ensure efficient power management.

"It is the first initiative as part of the vision of the government to ensure transparency and accountability in the power sector for the well-being of the countrymen," prof Rafiq said.

The gas turbine power station at Haripur is one of the modern power stations of the country situated on the eastern bank of the River Sitalakhya and about 20km south-east of the capital. The power station comprises three units, with a capacity of 32.02 MW each.

Rafiq also said the government has already undertaken massive steps for increased power generation to fulfil the local demand and has a plan to export electricity if surplus production was possible.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts and local MP SM Akram, Chairman of Power Development Board Kamrul Islam Siddiqi, Director of Centre for Management Development, consultant of the project Khairul Bahsar, local representative of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Uasunori Onishi, Managing Director of AES Meghnagat and Haripur Limited James Hagg and Dr AK Azad of BPDB, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Manager of the Haripur Power Station Motiur Rahman presided over the function.

A nine-member committee, comprising representatives from trade bodies, financial institutes and professionals, with BPDB chairman as its chief, will act as the management body of the HPSMB, which will become a commercial enterprise. Despite the restructuring, the power station's legal status will remain the same.

The state minister said the government recently approved a power generation policy titled "Vision Statement" to turn all state-run power plants into separate autonomous bodies enabling them to survive in the competitive market.

Local JBIC Chief Uasunori Onishi said that participatory management system would ensure proper managerial skill in the plant if transparency and accountability were to be ensured.

Chairman of PDB Kamrul Islam Siddique said the country would be divided into 22 zones under a power network for efficient generation, transmission, distribution and financial management.

He said the government would turn the Ghorashal Power Plant into a similar oranisation with the experience of the HPSMB.