Staff Reporter :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday inaugurated four new power plants, including two solar power plants, and 100 percent electrification of 10 upazilas.
The four new power plants will add about 400MW electricity in the national grid.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 3MW solar power plant in Jamalpur, a 400KW photovoltaic power plant in Sunamganj, and two power plants in Chapainawabganj with a combined capacity of 325MW via video conference on Sunday.
She also announced full electricity coverage of 10 upazilas from the event.
Speaking from the Ganabhaban, Hasina said her government believes in equal development and is pursuing development projects in all parts of the country.
The solar plant at Sharishabari’s Shimla Bazar in Jamalpur was constructed through a public-private partnership.
The land for ‘Engreen Sharishabari Solar Plant Limited’ was allocated by the Power Development Board. Germany’s IFI Eriksen AG, Bangladesh’s Concord Pragatee Consortium and Jupiter Energy invested in the project.
The power plant uses 11,500 solar panels over eight acres of land. The government plans to provide 332MW of power by launching five additional solar power plants across the country in the coming year.
The 400KW photovoltaic power plant at Sunamganj’s Salla uses 2,322 solar panels. It will supply power to 400 families.
“In the future, extra electricity from solar power will be added to the national grid.”
The 225MW combined cycle power plant in Chittagong’s Patiya will use a gas turbine to generate 150MW of electricity and a steam turbine to generate 75MW. The new power plant at Chapainawabganj’s Amnura will generate 100MW of electricity.
Hasina announced full electricity coverage of Faridpur Sadar Upazila, Madaripur’s Rajoir Upazila, Naogaon Sadar, Sirajganj’s Kamarkhand, Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura and Sadar Upazilas, Magura’s Shalikha Upazila, Meherpur’s Sadar Upazila, Netrokona’s Madan Upazila and Narsingdi’s Belabo Upazilas.
PM’s Energy Adviser Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu spoke at the function from Ganabhaban.
Law Minister Advocate Anisul Haque, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Power M Tazul Islam, Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah HM Al Mutairi, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bangladesh Adel Mohammed A.H. Hayat and senior officials of the Saudi Export Programme and Saudi Fund for Development were present at Ganabhaban. Power Division Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus gave an overview on the Power Sector development through a power point presentation, while PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury moderated the function at Ganabhaban.
