According to the deal with Adani Power, power would arrive in Bangladesh by the middle of March, according to State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid.
“Now we are getting 240 megawatt (MW) power on test basis from Adani power plant and in March 750 MW will be connected to the national grid through Rohonpur,” he said after inspecting Adani’s under-construction 1600 MW power plant having two units with 800 MW generation capacity each at Godda, Jhadkhand, India today.
Nasrul said that Adani group constructed a dedicated transmission line to supply electricity from India to Bangladesh, adding, “It will be possible to import electricity from mid-March and by June we will get 1,450 MW electricity.”
“We need more electricity to meet the next summer’s demand, as 1000 MW diesel based power plant would be phased out. We are also looking for alternative sources of fuel and working for uninterrupted power supply at affordable prices,” he said.
According to the state minister, Bangladesh’s government has been collaborating with its neighbors to secure the region’s electricity and energy security.
On November 5, 2017, Bangladesh Power Development Board and Adani Power (Jharkhand) Limited signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to import 1496 MW (Net) from a coal-fired power generation facility in the Godda District of Jharkhand, India.
The Interconnection and Transmission Facilities must be operational no later than six (6) months before the Required COD, as stated in the Implementation Agreement (IA).
The exclusive transmission lines were built. Two substations and associated transmission works were built by the PGCB in Bangladesh’s Chapainawabganj and Bogra.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Adani Power Sh. Anil Sardana, Chairman of BPDB Md. Mahbubur Rahman, and Power Division Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman were present during the inspection.
Anil Sardana, who provided an update on the power plant, stated that Adani has been building a 1600 MW coal-fired power station with two units using the ultra-super critical technology approach.
“Due to the Indian government policy not to export electricity generated by using local coal, we are bringing coal from Australia, South Africa and Indonesia for the plant. Right now coal price is going up that’s why power tariff is depended on coal price. In future coal price become lower, then power tariff will be downed,” he said.
Replying to a question, Anil Sardana said the Adani group is yet to receive money from Bangladesh government without supplying electricity.
