BSRM Gr to install 150 MW coal-fired plant at Sitakunda

FE Team | Published: February 16, 2012 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Jasim Uddin Haroon
The country's largest steel-maker - BSRM Group - Wednesday announced a foray into power generation, as the 60-year-old conglomerate wants to expand its business horizon.
The group will generate 150 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power at Sitakunda in Chittagong by investing more than US$ 250 million.
Alihussain Akberali, chairman of BSRM Group, told the FE: "We're now waiting for formal permission from the Power Cell."
He said his group has already completed feasibility study and selected site for construction of a jetty to unload imported coal for its proposed power plant.
The BSRM chief said they have also applied to the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) for construction of the jetty.
Director General of Power Cell Mehboob Sarwar E-Kainat told the FE: "We've already sent the BSRM's proposal to the ministry, and the procedures to approve it will take at least one month more."
Mr Mehboob said the Cell is giving approval to the installation of the BSRM's power plant under the existing merchant power policy.
BSRM will sell electricity to outside parties in the power-starved port-city to help ease power shortage there. Currently, Chittagong has on an average 60 MW power shortage against its daily demand of 380 MW.
Alihussain Akberali said: "I agree that there is power deficit in Chittagong region, and our power generation will reduce it to some extent."
BSRM is the country's largest mild-steel rod manufacturer with nearly 2,000 tonnes of daily production. The group, also listed with the bourses, contributes nearly Tk 1.0 billion in the form of taxes and other levies to the public exchequer each year.