Boropukuria Power Plant to be ready ahead of schedule

The under-construction Boropukuria Power Plant at Parbotipur in Dinajpur. PHOTO: STAR

Work is progressing in full swing and trial power generation by one unit will start in May next year instead of July, PDB Executive Engineer Shamsul Hoque told this correspondent during a recent visit.

All the machinery equipment are in hand and their installation will begin when construction of the building will be completed soon.

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The second unit will be commissioned in July 2006, Hoque said.

Officials and workers are working day and night to complete the construction of the plant, he said.

With commissioning of the plant, power crisis in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Bogra and Dinajpur will ease to a great extent and loadshedding will be reduced substantially, he said.

Coal from the Boropukuria mine will be used in the two-unit power plant to produce 250 mw (megawatt) electricity.

Bangladesh government in collaborating with a Chinese company is constructing the plant.

Prime Minister Khleda Zia laid its foundation on May 23 last year.

A total of Tk 1,634.86 core has been estimated for the project. Of the amount the government is providing Tk 693. 75 core and the rest Tk 941.11 corer is being provided under suppliers' credit.

The project is being jointly implemented by the

Power Development Board (PDB) and China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC). CMC is providing all technical support. CMC later involved Shanghai Electric Corporation and Shenzhan Energy Corporation in the project work.

Tow sub-stations will be set up in Rangpur and Sayedpur and each will get 132 KV power supply, to be distributed in other northern districts.

The plant will utilise 720 mt of coal annually. Production cost of per unit power has been estimated at Tk 1.72.