Govt awards contracts to generate 2,500mw power

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FE Report
The government has awarded contracts to generate around 2,500 megawatts (mw) of power to meet the mounting demand for electricity across the country, Prime Minister's Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said Tuesday.
"We will sign contracts to generate 1,500 mw electricity more this year to fulfill the government's committeemen to augment power generation," he said.
Dr Elahi was speaking as the chief guest at a power plant contract signing
ceremony at Biddut Bhaban in the city.
State-owned North-West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGCL) signed a deal with China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC) to build a 150mw duel-fuel power plant on the west bank of Jamuna river in Sirajganj.
The CMC is expected to initiate electricity generation from the plant by May 2012.
Addressing the ceremony the energy adviser expressed the hope that the government would be able to generate around 9000 mw of electricity within its tenure.
State Minister for power Muhammad Enamul Haq said maintaining time schedule is crucial to set up power plants.
He hoped that the Chinese contractors would be able to complete the installation of the plant within the given timeframe.
NWPGCL secretary Dipok Kumar Dhali and Vice President CMC Li Guohua signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies.
Total cost of the power plant project has been estimated at Tk 9.62 billion.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government would finance the project implementation.
The 150mw Sirajganj power plant would be run initially by diesel. It would consume natural gas when the fossil fuel becomes available.
Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xianyi and senior power ministry officials were present during the function.