Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) signed a $120 million agreement on Thursday with a tri- nation joint venture company USDKGEL to build a 60 megawatt wind power plant at Cox’s Bazaar.
As per the agreement, the power plant will be built in 12 months from the date of signing. The USDKGEL – a joint venture among US, Denmark and Bangladeshi companies – will build and operate the plant to supply 60-mw electricity to the national grid. The company will arrange the total project cost. The agreement will remain valid for the next 18 years when the joint venture power producers supply electricity to the BPDB for $12 cents per kilowatt.
Addressing the occasion, Energy Advisor to the Prime Minister Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said using natural resources like wind to generate electricity would help the country to achieve energy efficiency by 2012.
But, he cautioned that misuse of energy resources would lead to energy scarcity.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said setting up wind power is a timely step to meet energy needs with natural resources.
Secretary of Power Division Monowar Islam, Denmark Ambassador to Bangladesh Hanne Fugl Eskjaer, BPDB Chairman Abduhu Ruhullah, USDKGEL Chairman Jeremy Gathright, Director Peder Hansen and Managing Director Zahurual Islam Khan attended the signing ceremony, held in Bidyut Bhaban in the city.
