Orion to build coal-based power plants in pvt sector

Three units to generate 1,087.34-mw
The government Tuesday inked separate deals with Orion Group and Solarium Power Ltd to build four power plants on build, own and operate (BOO) basis at a cost of Tk 112 billion (US$ 1.70 billion) to generate 1,105-megawatts (mw) of electricity.

The state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) inked three deals with the consortium of local business conglomerate Orion Group and Chinese Long King to build three coal-fired power plants to generate 1,087.34 mw of electricity.

The BPDB has inked another deal with Solarium Power to build an 18-mw solar power plant in Mymensingh.

The consortium of Orion Group and Chinese Long King will build one 522-mw coal-fired power plant at Maowa in Munshiganj, and two power plants in Chittagong and Khulna, each having 282.67-mw capacity.

The BPDB will purchase electricity at Tk 4.095 (US$ 5.8497) per unit (1kWh) from the proposed Maowa plant for 25 years, at Tk 3.795 per unit from the Chittagong power plant and at Tk 3.785 per unit from the Khulna power plant – for 22 years. Besides, it will purchase electricity from Solarium Power at Tk 5.50 per unit for 15 years.

BPDB Secretary Md Abdul Aziz signed the deals with Orion Group Managing Director Salman Obaidul Karim to build the coal-fired power plants, and with Solarium Power Managing Director Nazmul Abedin to build the solar power plant.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on energy issues Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury was the chief guest at the deal signing ceremony at Bidyut Bhaban in the city.

State Minister for Power and Energy Muhammad Enamul Haque, Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, BPDB Chairman A S M Alamgir Kabir, Orion Group Chairman Obaidul Karim, and Solarium Power Managing Director Nazmul Abedin spoke on the occasion.

The consortium of Orion-Long King will build the 522-mw Maowa coal-fired power plant within the next 45 months, while it will take 36 months to build the remaining two coal-fired power plants.

“We will run all three coal-fired power plants with imported coal,” the Orion Group Chairman said. He said the consortium has already purchased lands to set up the power plants.

“Around $1.40 billion will be invested to build these coal-fired power plants,” he added.

On the other hand, the top executive of Solarium Power said: “We will require around Tk 2.35 billion investment to implement the project.”

“Deal signing with private firms to build coal-fired power plants and solar power plant is a milestone, as the country never awarded coal-fired and solar-based power plants to the private sector,” Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said.

thefinancialexpress

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