Staff Reporter :
The government plans to generate 20,000MW electricity from coal fired power plants by 2030. To achieve the highly ambitious target, about two dozens of coal fired power plants would be set up here within next few years.
For implementing the project smoothly, the government has a plan to form ‘Bangladesh Coal Club’ (BCC) with the combination of public and private sector experts for sharing knowledge in this regard.
As Bangladesh lacks knowledge in ultra modern coal fired power plant, the BCC will hold seminar, workshop to share technical knowledge with each other, sources said.
The Power Cell on Sunday organised a workshop on Bangladesh Coal Club with Prime Minister’s Power and Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power and Energy Md Nasrul Hamid, Power Division Secretary, Power Cell DG, Managing Directors of power generation companies and private sector participants attended the meeting.
The Power Division formed an ad-hoc committee headed by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Chairman Abduhu Ruhullah as convener while Power Cell Director General (DG) Mohammed Hossain as member-secretary of the committee, Power Division Secretary Monowar Islam said.
The ad-hoc committee will prepare and submit its report within next three months to form the full committee, DG power cell said.
Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said that the Coal Club would share ideas on how to optimise the project costs and ensure smooth supply of primary fuel coal for the plants.
The club would be sharing knowledge of excellence to share ideas among the stakeholders, he said.
Nasrul Hamid said, the government has taken initiative to set up the largest coal terminal in the region. It would also set up township there for the terminal, he said.
“We want to see the visibility of the project within the next three years because when the project would be visible, investors would come forward for involving their funds,” he said.
He said the Coal Club would help us exchange knowledge more efficiently.
“We would be benefited for dealing with coal pricing with public-private sharing through the Coal Club,” he opined.
The coal exporting countries are eager to sell their coal but pricing is the main issue, he thinks.
He said that the investors came forward to invest in the power sector with continuation of six percent GDP growth during last five to six years.
Monowar Islam said, the government has a target to set up 20,000MW coal-fired power projects using ultra super critical technology.
The Coal Club would work as an elite club like Dhaka Club and Chittagong Club to help development of the coal-fired power projects in the country.
Vijay Shankar Tamrakar, Managing Director of Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company said, the long-term coal sourcing is the main challenge to set up power projects here.
He said, the coal suppliers want to supply short-term coal instead of 10 years long deal.
Orion Group Vice-President Mosharraf Hossain also voiced in support of the short-term coal sourcing as coal suppliers disagreed to supply long-term coal.
The government has already signed 1320 MW Rampal power plant in joint venture with Indian NTPC at Rampal in Bagerhat, 1320MW power plant with Chinese company in Patuakhali, 1320MW power plant at Moheshkhali, 522MW power plant in Mawa, 283MW in Dhaka and 283MW in Chittagong.
The government has a plan to develop a power hub at Moheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar aiming to set up 9000MW of electricity.
