240 MW Shiddhirganj power plant gets ready by next April

---

FE Report
A new peaking power plant having the electricity generation capacity of 240 megawatts (MW) is set to initiate power generation at Shiddhirganj, some 20 kilometres off the capital, from next summer, officials said Friday.
The newly-established Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) is implementing the project to ease the nagging electricity crisis across the country.
"The EGCB has informed me that power generation from this plant may start next summer, particularly by April," Power Secretary Dr Fauzul Kabir Khan has told the FE.
He said the government is trying hard to add more power to the national grid to reduce the gap between demand and supply.
The contractor of the project -- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) - has recently informed the EGCB of its latest position on making the plant operational by next summer, a senior EGCB official said.
Currently, the country's total electricity generation stands at around 3,500 MW against the demand for 5,000 MW, while in the capital the electricity supply shortfall is about 400 MW against the demand for around 1800 MW.
The BHEL is installing the power plant with funding help from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) following an agreement with the EGCB.
The ADB is providing US$ 109.86 million for installing the plant having two units with a power generation capacity of 120 MW each.
The second unit has already been installed at the project site, while the first unit is yet to be installed because of an accident which took place during shipment from the GE's manufacturing plant in Hyderabad of India.
The implementing agency of the power plant -the state-owned EGCB - subsequently asked BHEL to look into the cause of the accident engaging the UK-based Lloyd's Register as the third party inspector, said a power division official.
He said the Lloyds has conducted its inspection and opined that the machine was in good condition and fit for installation and operation.
The EGCB also conducted an inspection independently to examine the accuracy of the machine's performance, the official said.
After completion of the inspection the gas turbine is now being readied for shipment and is expected to reach Mongla Port by November next.
The power ministry has already instructed the EGCB to ensure installation of the 240 MW Shiddhirganj power plant as early as possible.
To ensure smooth operation of the plant the EGCB has stepped up efforts to appoint a private operation and maintenance (O&M) firm.
It has already invited tender for appointment of the O&M contractor for the power plant.
The state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will purchase electricity from the EGCB at a commercial rate and then sell it to consumers through distributing agencies.
Meanwhile, the World Bank (WB) Thursday approved a US$350 million IDA credit to Bangladesh, designed to increase reliable power during peak demand times in a country where poor supply is estimated to cost around 2.0 per cent in gross domestic product (GDP) growth each year.
The Siddhirganj Peaking Power Project will finance the construction of a 300 megawatt, gas turbine power plant at Siddhirganj, an existing power generation site to the southeast of Dhaka, said the WB in a statement.
It will also finance a 60 km natural gas pipeline from Bakhrabad to Siddhirganj that will improve the reliability of gas supply to the Siddhirganj power plant, and an 11 km electricity transmission line so that power from the plant can be distributed to consumers.