UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh’s first-ever electric prepaid metre-manufacturing plant has failed to start its commercial operation as it is already running nearly four months behind the schedule. State-owned West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDCL), a subsidiary of Bangladesh Power Development Board, and Hexing Electrical Company Ltd, a Chinese firm, have jointly set up the plant under 51:49 ownership basis. The authorised capital of the new company is about Tk 50 crore while the paid-up capital is Tk 28.6 crore.
On September 2, 2018, the company got the government approval after a joint venture contract was signed between the two companies to produce prepaid metres in Bangladesh.
A five-member board of directors was formed in this regard. There are two more employees beside the board of directors under WZPDCL.
To launch the lant and facilitate its activities, the Mridha Complex near zero-point of Khulna was taken on rent in October last year at a monthly rent of Tk 1.60 lakh.
The company was scheduled to begin the manufacturing and assembling metres in June last, a plan which is left in the lurch.
Asked when the production will begin, WZPDCL secretary Abdul Motalib, who is also the director (finance) of the joint venture company, said it will happen soon and could not give any exact date.
Approached with the same question, WZPDCL managing director Eng. Mohamamd Shafik Uddin said it will be opened either in the first or second week of the December next.
Bangladesh’s first-ever electric prepaid metre-manufacturing plant has failed to start its commercial operation as it is already running nearly four months behind the schedule. State-owned West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDCL), a subsidiary of Bangladesh Power Development Board, and Hexing Electrical Company Ltd, a Chinese firm, have jointly set up the plant under 51:49 ownership basis. The authorised capital of the new company is about Tk 50 crore while the paid-up capital is Tk 28.6 crore.
On September 2, 2018, the company got the government approval after a joint venture contract was signed between the two companies to produce prepaid metres in Bangladesh.
A five-member board of directors was formed in this regard. There are two more employees beside the board of directors under WZPDCL.
To launch the lant and facilitate its activities, the Mridha Complex near zero-point of Khulna was taken on rent in October last year at a monthly rent of Tk 1.60 lakh.
The company was scheduled to begin the manufacturing and assembling metres in June last, a plan which is left in the lurch.
Asked when the production will begin, WZPDCL secretary Abdul Motalib, who is also the director (finance) of the joint venture company, said it will happen soon and could not give any exact date.
Approached with the same question, WZPDCL managing director Eng. Mohamamd Shafik Uddin said it will be opened either in the first or second week of the December next.
