Document signed with Siemens to build LNG power plant at Payra

MUNICH, Feb 16 (UNB): The Power Division of Bangladesh and Siemens of Germany on Friday initialled a joint development agreement for the construction of a 3600MW LNG power plant at Payra in Bangladesh.

The document was signed following a meeting of the Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Hotel Sheraton where Hasina is staying.

CEO of North West Power Generation Company of Bangladesh Khorshed Alam and Chief Executive Officer and Global President of Siemens Joe Kaeser signed the document.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Foreign Sectary Md Shahidul Haque said the power plant is the initial part of the Siemens plan to come to Bangladesh in a big way to invest in health, education mobility and other sectors.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim, Power Division Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Imtiaz Ahmed were present.

Later, CEO of German company Veridos Hans Wolfgang Kunz met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the hotel.

Wolfgang informed the Prime Minister about the progress of manufacturing technologically-advanced e-passport for Bangladesh saying the company would be able to hand over the first batch of e-passport to Bangladesh authorities by June next.

The Veridos CEO said such e-passport is very much advanced in technological point of view and will be used only in two countries of the world -- Germany and Bangladesh. The passport is almost impossible to be forged.