3 pvt firms set to install 317mw furnace oil-based power plants

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FHM Humayan Kabir
Three private companies are set to grab work for setting up total 317-megawatt furnace oil-based 'expensive' power plants as the government has to pay nearly eight taka for a unit of electricity, officials said Monday.
Power division officials said it would place three bids for installing furnace oil-based power plants by three private firms before the government's highest procurement body -- cabinet purchase committee -- Thursday.
The government has to pay Tk 700 million as electricity bill per month to the three private companies for purchasing the 317mw electricity, the cost being over three times higher than the prices paid to the gas-based power generators.
"We've already signed agreement with three private firms. Now if the cabinet purchase committee approves the bids, we will give work orders to instal the plants," a senior power development board (PDB) official told the FE.
As an emergency move of the government for generating more power, the PDB has singed agreements with Summit Power Ltd, Khulna Power Company Ltd (KPCL) and the IEL Consortium and Associates for purchasing their 102mw, 115mw and 100mw electricity.