The second unit with 660MW capacity of the first mega coal-fired Payra Power Plant is set to go into commercial operation next month.
Earlier, on August 26, the 1320MW plant started generation on trial.
However, the first unit with same capacity started its test run on January, 13. Then on May 14, it started commercial generation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate officially the power plant with two units by the end of November, according to North-West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGCL).
Bangladesh has entered the Ultra Super Critical Club with the launch of the coal-fired power plant, making the country the 7th nation in Asia to build such a power plant. India has a power plant in South Asia. There are also power plants of Ultra Super Critical Technology in China, Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia in Asia. Except Bangladesh and China, other countries do not use covered coal yards in Ultra Super Critical Technology based power plants.
The Payra Power Power Plant Project Director Shah Abdul Mowla told The Bangladesh Post, that “We have already generated 660MW of electricity from the second unit. After successfully completing the test run, hope it will go into commercial operation by next month.”
“However, the plant will not be able to supply full electricity as the transmission line has not yet been constructed. Now the two units will be run at half load. But we are ready to supply 1320MW of electricity to the national grid,” he added.
Officials said the power from the Payra Power Plant will be now transmitted to the southern region of the country by shutting down some costly liquid fuel-fired generation units in Khulna and its adjoining districts.
The electricity will be added to the national grid from the Payra Thermal Power Plant through Patuakhali Sadar to the newly constructed 400/230 KV grid substation in Moksudpur upazila of Gopalganj district.
Construction of transmission line from Gopalganj to Aminbazar in Dhaka will be completed by December. Once the construction of this transmission line is completed, it will be possible to bring the electricity to Dhaka.
An official of NWPGCL said ultra-super critical technology can generate more electricity by burning less coal. This technology does not pollute the environment. Modern technology has been used in pollution control.
He added that the coal yard of the Payra Power Plant is covered. Apart from Bangladesh, only China in Asia uses such coal yards. There is no such coal yard also in Japan. Sulfur dioxide emissions from the Payra Power Plant are only 60 to 70 mg. On the other hand, the World Bank's prescribed maximum emission limit is 200 mg.
Although the generation efficiency is two percent higher than that of super critical, the cost of ultra-super critical technology is much higher. For this reason, many countries are not interested to build ultra-super critical power plants.
Bangladesh-China Power Company Ltd (BCPCL), a joint venture of Bangladesh’s North-West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGCL) and China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), constructed the power plant with two units at Dhankhali, Kalapara in Patuakhali.
The power plant was built with financial support from China’s Exim Bank. The Framework Financial Agreement of USD 1.984 billion for the power plant between the CEXIM and BCPCL was signed on October 14, 2016.
Currently, Bangladesh has three coal-fired power plants with a total generation capacity of 524MW. The government is also working on three major power generation hubs at Payra in Patuakhali, and Maheshkhali and Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar.
The construction of 1,200MW coal-fired power plant at Matarbari is expected to go into operation by 2024 while construction of the 1320 MW power plant in Bagerhat’s Rampal is underway.
Meanwhile, the work to build the country’s first-ever nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna is underway.
