The first unit of much-talked-about Rampal 1,320-MW coal-fired power plant is likely to commence its commercial operation this month while the second unit will go into production by June next year, project officials said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated the unit-1 of the 1320-megawatt Maitree Super Thermal Power Project, known as Rampal Power Plant in Bagerhat's Rampal, in last September.
The power plant, one of the fast-track projects of the government, is being jointly implemented by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL). Coal is being imported from Indonesia for Rampal Power Plant. It will produce 1,320 megawatts of electricity from two units having the generation capacity of 660MW each.
Anwarul Azim, Deputy General Manager and spokesperson for Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Limited (BIFPCL), told Bangladesh Post, “If everything goes as planned, test run of the first unit will begin on November 25 and continue for next 72 hours. Then, it will start commercial operation if 660 MW of electricity can be generated during this period. Earlier, we were able to generate up to 400 megawatts of electricity in last October. But production was halted due to cyclone Sitrang.”
“Along with the first unit, the work of the second unit is also going in full swing. We expect the second unit of the plant will start generating power in June next year,” he added.
Officials said unit-1 of the coal-fired power plant was successfully synchronised with the national grid on 15 August. On that day, 91 MW of electricity was generated and supplied to the national grid.
Earlier on 6 April, 400kV GIS switchyard and interconnecting transformer of the power plant was energised.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India in August 2010. At the time, an announcement was made that the project would be completed by 2016. However, the implementing agency missed the deadline several times.
The power plant is being built by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). BIFPCL is a 50-50 joint venture company between India's National Thermal Power Company (NTPC) Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
Once a marshy area, the 915.5-acres area of Rampal power plant now has a modern look. The company under the project is also helping local poor people with medical camps, water filter distribution and wheelchairs. Over 100,000 saplings have been planted around the area.
Local and international environmentalists raised voice against the implementation of the project because of its proximity to the Sundarbans. According to them, the project will hamper the ecological balance of the Sundarbans, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The government, however, said that it did everything to protect the Sundarbans from any adverse impacts due to implementation of the project.
Bangladesh is applying Ultra Super Critical Technology, which is costly. This kind of technology used in Rampal plant poses no risk to the Sundarbans or the environment
In July 2016, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) was awarded the contract to build the plant. On April 25, 2018, BHEL began the construction work of the power plant.
On July 5, 2017, UNESCO requested the Bangladesh government to suspend development of all large-scale industries and infrastructures in and around the Sundarbans unless a Strategic Environmental Assessment was done.
During the time, the UNESCO also set a condition on the construction of the power plant. Later, the government claimed the UNESCO had withdrawn the embargo subject to a few conditions. Environmentalists rejected the government’s claim. However, following the start of the construction work, the UNESCO has not issued any statement on the Rampal Power Plant.
