Staff Reporter :
State-owned Power Development Board (PDB) on Monday signed a contract with a Chinese contractor for increasing the generation capacity of Unit-4 at Ghorasal Power Plant to 409 MW from existing 170 MW through ‘re-powering’.
Chinese engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm China Energy Engineering Group will complete the work on turnkey basis within next 22 months at a contract value of $198.53 million (equivalent to Tk 1544.58 crore).
World Bank has been financing the project with $271 million fixing interest rate at 0.75 percent with 36 years repayment provision having 6 years grace period.
Officials said under the contract, the project will transform a gas-fired steam turbine unit that is currently generating 170 MW into an energy efficient 409 MW plant. Such conversion to combined cycle technology will increase the plant’s overall efficiency from existing 30 percent to 54 percent.
At present, the plant is now consuming 48 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) to generate 170 MW. To produce 409 MW by improving the efficiency, additional 8 mmcfd gas will be required, said an official of the PDB.
However, some experienced PDB officials disagreed with ‘re-powering’
concept terming it a costlier move. They said instead of replacing some old parts of the existing unit, installation of a brand new unit would yield better result in increasing efficiency and longevity of a plant.
PDB Chairman Shamsul Hasan Mia justified the re-powering move saying that during the tenure of the job, the plant does not need to completely shut down. “It will continue production at 170 MW capacity level which economic value is Tk 1071.57 crore in 22 months,” he said while addressing the contract signing ceremony.
Addressing the function, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid said the government has conducted a survey on the old power plants to replace them with new ones.
Nasrul Hamid mentioned that his ministry has taken up a number of measures, including stopping operation of CNG filling stations for 7 hours (from 3pm to 10 pm), to improve the power supply situation during holy Ramadan.
“This year power generation has reached a good position of about 8500 MW. So, we hope, people will get more electricity than previous years”, he said.
State-owned Power Development Board (PDB) on Monday signed a contract with a Chinese contractor for increasing the generation capacity of Unit-4 at Ghorasal Power Plant to 409 MW from existing 170 MW through ‘re-powering’.
Chinese engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm China Energy Engineering Group will complete the work on turnkey basis within next 22 months at a contract value of $198.53 million (equivalent to Tk 1544.58 crore).
World Bank has been financing the project with $271 million fixing interest rate at 0.75 percent with 36 years repayment provision having 6 years grace period.
Officials said under the contract, the project will transform a gas-fired steam turbine unit that is currently generating 170 MW into an energy efficient 409 MW plant. Such conversion to combined cycle technology will increase the plant’s overall efficiency from existing 30 percent to 54 percent.
At present, the plant is now consuming 48 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) to generate 170 MW. To produce 409 MW by improving the efficiency, additional 8 mmcfd gas will be required, said an official of the PDB.
However, some experienced PDB officials disagreed with ‘re-powering’
concept terming it a costlier move. They said instead of replacing some old parts of the existing unit, installation of a brand new unit would yield better result in increasing efficiency and longevity of a plant.
PDB Chairman Shamsul Hasan Mia justified the re-powering move saying that during the tenure of the job, the plant does not need to completely shut down. “It will continue production at 170 MW capacity level which economic value is Tk 1071.57 crore in 22 months,” he said while addressing the contract signing ceremony.
Addressing the function, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid said the government has conducted a survey on the old power plants to replace them with new ones.
Nasrul Hamid mentioned that his ministry has taken up a number of measures, including stopping operation of CNG filling stations for 7 hours (from 3pm to 10 pm), to improve the power supply situation during holy Ramadan.
“This year power generation has reached a good position of about 8500 MW. So, we hope, people will get more electricity than previous years”, he said.
