FHM Humayan Kabir
The Economic Relations Division (ERD) has sought funds from the World Bank for setting up two new power plants with a combined capacity of 250 megawatt (MW) at Haripur and Khulna.
An ERD official told the FE: "We sent letter to the major lending agency World Bank on June 3 seeking financial assistance for installation of the two power plants in Bangladesh in order to help the country recover from severe power shortage."
Earlier, the Power Division in a letter requested the ERD to look for overseas assistance for installation of the power plants.
Power Division sources said that it would install 150MW combined cycle, gas-fired power plant at Haripur, and the 100MW gas-fired peaking power plant at Khulna as soon as possible after confirmation of foreign funds.
"If the Khulna 100MW power plant is set up, it will be possible to meet the western region's demand for a total of 400MW electricity. Besides, the Haripur power plant will help redress power shortage in Dhaka city," one official said quoting the letter.
When asked about the possibility of support form Washington-based lending agency for the proposed power plants, a senior ERD official said: "As the donors are happy over the activities of the present caretaker government, I think it will provide the financial support for the power projects."
"The ERD will also hold discussion with the World Bank shortly when it will request the bank to finance different projects, particularly the power generation ones," he said.
He said that the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, during a recent meeting with the vice-president, South Asia Department of the World Bank, Praful C Patel sought the bank's increased funding support for the power sector development in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the Power Division has prepared a roadmap for generating 5875MW of electricity by 2012 in order to end the prevailing power crisis and meet future demands.
Out of the projects, 17 power stations having a total generation capacity of 3375MW will be installed under the public sector, eight stations with a combined capacity of 2430MW under the private sector and one plant of 70MW capacity under the joint venture.
The proposed 17 public sector power plants will require around Tk 105.83 billion fund, the power division source said.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
