KHULNA, Dec 19, 2022 (BSS) – The coal-fired Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant at Rampal started trial operation on Saturday night, adding 660 megawatt (MW) electricity to the national grid from Unit-I.
Earlier, India-Bangladesh Power Sector Cooperation, Unit-I of the 2×660 MW Maitree Super Thermal Power Project was successfully synchronized with the national grid on August 15, 2022 injecting 91.7 MW of electricity to the national grid.
In June, 2023, 660 MW more electricity will be synchronized to the
national grid from Unit-II, an official of the project told BSS today.
Trial-run of Unit-I has been started from Saturday night, managing director of BIFPCL Sayeed Ekram Ullah said,adding, “We have started supplying electricity commercially. All type of technical works has already been completed. The power plant will strengthen ties between Bangladesh-India side by side play vital role for development of the area.”
Being built at an estimated cost of Taka 16,000 crore, the plant aims to
produce a total of 1,320 MW electricity from its two units (660 megawatts each).
Anwarul Azim, deputy manager of the project said, 660 MW electricity is being produced from the first unit. Already 79.35 percent work of the second unit has been completed. If everything goes well, the rest of work will be completed by June 2023.
The Maitree Super Thermal Power Project is being constructed under the
government of India’s Concessional Financing Scheme. It is being built by
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Private Ltd. (BIFPCL), a 50:50 Joint Venture company between India’s National Thermal Power Company (NTPC)Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
The 1,320 (2×660) MW coal-fired thermal power plant is being set up at a cost of approximately US$ 2.0 billion and is located in Rampal, in the Bagerhat district of Khulna Division.
Situated on some 915.5 acres of land, cent percent power to be generated from this plant would be supplied inside Bangladesh. To transmit and thus
distribute electricity from this plant, construction of 230 KV double circuit line from the plant to Khulna and 400 KV double circuit line to Dhaka has been completed up to Gopalganj.
