The state-owned Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) is going to set up a 420 megawatts (MW) power plant at Shumvoganj of Mymensingh district.
Such power plant in the region will greatly relieve the existing erratic power disruption problem and also fulfill the rising demand for electricity in greater Mymensingh.
The main construction work is expected to start early next year, which will subsequently start power generation by 2024. Once built, people of that area will enjoy more reliable and uninterrupted electricity that will help to enhance socio-economic development in rural areas, RPCL high official said.
According to RPCL, Harbine Electric International Company Ltd of China will construct the power plant, which will be run by technology using a combination of gas and (high-speed) diesel.
Initially, the electricity tariff has been fixed at taka 2.30 per unit for gas and taka 14.40 per unit when it will run using fuel like diesel. However, the tariff will be changed in accordance with the use of fuel price. Md Salim Bhuiyan, Executive Director (Engineering) told Bangladesh Post, “We have already acquired 38 acres of land for the power plant. Out of these 16.5 acres will be needed for the power plant and there is an option to set up another 420MW power plant in the rest of the land. Meanwhile, the land development work of the upcoming power plant has been completed.”
“Currently, basic design work of the power plant is underway. Then the main construction work of the plant will be started from January next. Hopefully, the power plant will start its commercial operation by 2024. Once the power plant is completed, the voltage drop will be removed and beneficiaries will also get reliable and uninterrupted electricity,” he added.
RPCL officials said that currently, the total electricity demand in six districts of greater Mymensingh region is more than 600 MW, which is increasing gradually. However, there is a production shortage of around 150 to 200MW of electricity, which is being supplied from other power plants to the region.
Nevertheless, both the power transmission lines (Ashuganj-Mymensingh and Tangail-Mymensingh) are overloaded. Although the electricity demand is increasing day by day, sometimes the voltage is fluctuating. So, it is essential to build more power plants in Mymensingh now.
The state-owned Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) will build a 60 kilometers pipeline from Dhanua to Mymensingh to supply gas for the power plant.
The estimated cost of the power plant is around $190 million plus about $10 million for land development works. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) of Singapore will provide the money as a soft loan.
In addition, RPCL plans to create a power hub to generate around 2100 megawatts of electricity for Mymensingh regional development by 2031.
