Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDP) on Monday signed a deal with Haor Bangla- Korea Green Energy Ltd (HBKGEL) to install 32MW solar power plant in Sunamganj.
Company secretary of BPDB Mazharul Islam and Chairman of HBKGEL Ki Young Le signed in the agreement on behalf of their respective companies.
HBKGEL is a joint venture initiative between five local and South Korean private companies. Parliament member from Sunamganj- 1 constituency, Moazzem Hossain Ratan is the managing director of the JV Company with a major share in the company.
Under the contract, BPDB would buy electricity from HBKGEL at Tk 13.6 per unit or kilowatt-hour. Now, the average cost of electricity generation is, however, hovering around Tk 5.80 per unit.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, power division secretary Monwar Islam and BPDB chairman Md Shamsul Hasan Miah attended the signing ceremony at Bidyut Bhaban in the city.
Nasrul Hamid said that the government has been trying to supply electricity to the people including haor and power grid isolated island areas by setting solar panel in an affordable price.
The power plant will be installed for generation within next 18 months as per agreement. The plant is expected to generate 5,186 crore units of electricity a year. Under the contract, HBGEL will not receive any capacity payment or any compensation if the BPDB does not buy electricity from it.
Monwar Islam said that the government has plans to generate 2,000MW power from solar-based facilities by 2021.
The BPDB signed the deal under the controversial Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provision) Act, 2010 as it had awarded the contract without tenders.
