Orion to set up 3 coal fired IPP plants in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's Power Development Board has finalized deals with the Orion Group to set up three coal-fired independent power producer plants at three separate locations.

The plants have a total capacity of more than 1300 MW.

Of the three projects, a 760 MW plant will be installed at Maowa in Munshiganj district, a 300 MW plant in Anwara of Choggagong district and another 300 MW plant at Rampal in Khulna region.

Earlier, in December last year, the PDB initialed primary deals with the Orion, a local conglomerate, for the plants. After completion of due legal exercise, the two sides have now signed the final contracts.

The PDB also signed another deal with Rural Power Company Limited to set up a 50 MW independent power producer plant in Gazipur. The RPCL is a subsidiary of the Rural Electrification Board.

PDB Secretary Md Abdul Aziz, Orion Group Managing Director Salman Obaidul Karim and Managing Director of RPCL Abdus Sabur signed the contracts on behalf of their respective sides.

Prime Minister’s Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power and Energy Enamul Haque, Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, PDB chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir and senior officials of the PDB, Orion and RPCL were present at the signing ceremony held at Bidyut Bhaban.

Orion Group will implement the three coal-fired projects on build-own-operate basis and the PDB will purchaseelectricity from the plants for 22 years.

As per the contract, the PDB will buy per kilowatt hour electricity at 5.8497 US cents or Tk 4.095 from Maowa plant while tariff for the Chittagong plant was set at 5.4214 US cents or Tk 3.795 and for Khulna plant at 5.4071 US cents or Tk 3.785.

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