MoU with China today on 1320MW power plant

The government is going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China today (Monday) for setting up a 1320-megawwat (MW) coal-fired power plant in joint venture (JV) at Maheshkhali, Chittangong, reports BSS.

After the signing of the MoU, Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) and China Huadian Hong Kong Co. Ltd. will set up a joint-venture company on 50:50 equity basis like that of Indian NTPC for Rampal coal-fired power plant, a PDB officer said.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmud Ali will attend the MoU signing ceremony as the chief guest while energy adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Tawfiq-e- Elahi Chowdhury and state minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nasrul Hamid as special guests.

Earlier, the government had signed similar agreement with India under which Dhaka and New Delhi has been implementing 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant at Rampal near Sundarbans.

As per the Power System Master Plan (2010-2030) to increase power generation capacity to 34,000 MW by 2030, the power ministry planned setting up a number of coal-fired power plants across the country.