UNB, Dhaka :
Although seven gigantic IPP solar power projects that received the ‘Prime Minister’s go-ahead signal’ for implementation, the Power Division has so far been able to sign the final contract only for one project.
The lone project for which the contract was signed is 32 MW (AC) solar park at Dharampasa in Sunamganj district.
The six other projects that have got stuck in bureaucratic tangle, are 200 MW (AC) solar park at Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, 200 (AC) MW solar park in Gaibandha, 50 MW (AC) solar park at Sutiakhali in Mymensingh, 30 MW (AC) solar park at Gangachara in Rangpur, 20 MW (AC) solar park in Cox’s Bazar and 10 MW Grid-tied solar power project at Goainghat in Sylhet.
All these 7 projects are planned to be implemented by private sector sponsors as independent power producers (IPPs) from which the state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) will purchase electricity over a period of 20-25 years. All the projects are being implemented on unsolicited basis.
Of the projects, the PDB has been able to sign power purchase agreement (PPA) with the private sector sponsor -‘EDISUN-Power Point & Haor Bangla – Korea Green Energy Ltd for 32 MW (AC) solar park at Dharampasa, according to official
documents obtained by UNB. Officials said, the biggest project of ‘200 MW (AC) Solar Park on BOO basis at Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar’ received approval of the Cabinet Purchase Committee on October 1 in 2015. But in the last seven months, the process for signing the PPA could not be completed because of US solar company SunEdison’s failure to purchase about 1000 acres of non-agricultural lands in Teknaf area.
The US company, recently declared bankrupt, could not manage the required fund for purchasing the huge land.
However, Power Division’s joint Secretary Mohammad Alauddin, who is in-charge of renewable energy issues, said SunEdison has informed the government that fund is not a problem for them as the company’s Singapore-based subsidiary – SunEdison Energy Holding (Singapore) Private Ltd-is responsible for Bangladesh project which does not have any fund crisis.
He also said, the contract signing process is getting delayed because of SunEdison’s offer for changes in some provisions of the contract regarding ‘governing law, arbitration, stamp duty on deeds of land acquisition and 15 years’ corporate tax exemption.
Although seven gigantic IPP solar power projects that received the ‘Prime Minister’s go-ahead signal’ for implementation, the Power Division has so far been able to sign the final contract only for one project.
The lone project for which the contract was signed is 32 MW (AC) solar park at Dharampasa in Sunamganj district.
The six other projects that have got stuck in bureaucratic tangle, are 200 MW (AC) solar park at Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, 200 (AC) MW solar park in Gaibandha, 50 MW (AC) solar park at Sutiakhali in Mymensingh, 30 MW (AC) solar park at Gangachara in Rangpur, 20 MW (AC) solar park in Cox’s Bazar and 10 MW Grid-tied solar power project at Goainghat in Sylhet.
All these 7 projects are planned to be implemented by private sector sponsors as independent power producers (IPPs) from which the state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) will purchase electricity over a period of 20-25 years. All the projects are being implemented on unsolicited basis.
Of the projects, the PDB has been able to sign power purchase agreement (PPA) with the private sector sponsor -‘EDISUN-Power Point & Haor Bangla – Korea Green Energy Ltd for 32 MW (AC) solar park at Dharampasa, according to official
documents obtained by UNB. Officials said, the biggest project of ‘200 MW (AC) Solar Park on BOO basis at Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar’ received approval of the Cabinet Purchase Committee on October 1 in 2015. But in the last seven months, the process for signing the PPA could not be completed because of US solar company SunEdison’s failure to purchase about 1000 acres of non-agricultural lands in Teknaf area.
The US company, recently declared bankrupt, could not manage the required fund for purchasing the huge land.
However, Power Division’s joint Secretary Mohammad Alauddin, who is in-charge of renewable energy issues, said SunEdison has informed the government that fund is not a problem for them as the company’s Singapore-based subsidiary – SunEdison Energy Holding (Singapore) Private Ltd-is responsible for Bangladesh project which does not have any fund crisis.
He also said, the contract signing process is getting delayed because of SunEdison’s offer for changes in some provisions of the contract regarding ‘governing law, arbitration, stamp duty on deeds of land acquisition and 15 years’ corporate tax exemption.
