The country is set to start smart prepayment meter production this month to help improve its energy billing process and enable consumers use electricity in line with their budgets.
State-owned Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) and a Chinese privately-run company are going to kick off the prepayment meter production this month at its Tongi factory, a smart step to help consumers improve their energy efficiency.
A total of 13 lakh prepayment meters with single and three phase will be produced from the factory annually. It will meet the high demand for prepayment meter and thus save foreign currency, top RPCL officials said.
The factory is a joint venture initiative of state-owned Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) and Chinese privately run Shenzhen Star Instrument Co., Ltd. These two companies formed a new company titled ‘Bangladesh Power Equipment Manufacturing Company Limited’ (BPEMC). RPCL has a 51 percent stake in the company, with the Chinese holding a 49 percent share.
This reporter visited the factory last Tuesday and .talked to Salim Bhuiyan, Executive Director (Engineering) of RPCL and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BPEMC, Mirza Safiqul Islam, Executive Engineer of RPCL and Assistant Engineer Md Rafejul Islam of the company. It was seen that two production lines were ready for assembling the meters. Various types of equipment have already been installed.
A testing lab has been set up for quality test after producing of the meters. A medical center has been established there to provide round-the-clock medical services to the factory employees and workers. There is also a clean canteen and other facilities for the staff.
Md Salim Bhuiyan told The Bangladesh Post that ‘We have taken initiatives to establish a smart prepayment meter assembling and electrical equipment manufacturing plant. To this end a space of 19000 square feet has been hired in Sena Kalyan Commercial Complex of Tongi. Hopefully, the factory will be shifted to its own building in Kadda of Gazipur within next 3 years. Initially, we will assemble smart prepayment meter only. We have also plans to produce other electrical equipment in phases.’
‘We are fully ready to assemble the meter. Spare parts with raw materials already have reached in Bangladesh from China. The state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, Nasrul Hamid will inaugurate the factory. Hopefully, the production will start by the end of this month. We have already got a requirement for 2 lakh meters of REB. They want to purchases it by June,’ he continued.
“There are plans to export the meter abroad after fulfilling our country’s demand in the future. The prices of our products will also reasonable with best quality. Besides, it will create employment opportunity,” Salim Bhuiyan said.
He also said “We will reap many benefits as a result of setting up of our own meter factory. The main advantage is that I can use modern technology here. Secondly, after-sale service was not available on imported meters. Now we can repair the meter easily. Besides, the price is also affordable and it also saves foreign currency.”
The prepaid metering system has been introduced nationwide aimed at facilitating convenience of the consumers and also easing bill payment system with hundred percent bill collection and electricity savings.
It is also aimed at protecting against system loss, corruption and overloading of the electricity to facilitate loading management with load control. It will help reduce system loss, pilferage, overbilling in power consumption as well ensuring services to subscribers.
In addition, RPCL was registered as a Public Limited Company at the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies & Firms on 31 December 1994 to lessen power crisis and to meet the increasing power demand of the country. The company was promoted to Rural Electrification Board (REB) and 5 (five) Palli Biddyut Samities (PBSs). The company is presently generating 392 MW of electricity from its 4 power plants & 150MW from its BPDB-RPCL Powergen, a joint venture company of BPDB & RPCL.
Present shareholders of the company are BREB & 13 (thirteen) PBSs. Over the years RPCL has gained vast experience in project implementation, operation and maintenance of power plants.
