Another coal fired power plant of 1320mw capacity will be set up in Patuakhali at a close location of the Sundarbans. Regarding it a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with China in a city hotel on Wednesday night.
The state-owned North West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) and the China National Machinery Import Export Corporation (CMC) will build the power plant under a joint venture.
Chinese people are happy for getting such opportunity for building lower cost electricity project for the people of Bangladesh. The project will involve a cost of about $2 billion, said Chinese Ambassador Li Jun in the function.
This will be the second such project after the 1320MW Rampal power project in Bagerhat for which Bangladesh signed a contract with neighbouring India. The country has little experience about installation of coal-based power plant though coal has been contributing about 70 per cent electricity generation in the world.
Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury said, this is the part of the government’s plan to boost electricity generation by setting up coal-fired power plants. She said, the government has outlined its vision to generate 24,000 MW power by 2021 and 40,000 MW by 2041. Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid, Power Secretary Monwar Islam and officials for both the companies attended the function.
