Country to get 220 mw electricity by mid- 2008

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Intensive monitoring of a crisis situation and prompt decision of the caretaker government pays off as the country is going to get about 220mw electricity from two new plants by the middle of next year, reports UNB.
Of this new output, 70 megawatts of electricity will be added to the national grid by December this year while another 150mw by the middle of next year, official sources said.
According to the sources, a power plant of 90mw capacity is being built at Fenchuganj in Sunamganj under the Power Development Board (PDB) while a 40mw combined-cycle unit is now at the last stage of installation at Baghabari in Sirajganj.
Chinese contractor Harbin Power Engineering (HPE) is working as turnkey contractor for the plant.
Private power Company Westmont Power (Bangladesh) Ltd is setting up a 40mw combined-cycle plant as the second unit of the existing 90mw plant at the same location. The Westmont is also implementing another 90mw plant at the same location of Baghabari power station.
A top official of the PDB said the Power Ministry is now regularly monitoring the installation works under the projects, which ultimately resulting in their timely completion.
When contacted, Project Manger of the 90mw Fenchuganj project Jalal Uddin told the news agency that work in his project is going on in a full swing.
"Already, we have completed 50 per cent works… the rest will also be finished on schedule," he said.
Jalal said a total of three units-two each of 30mw gas turbine as simple cycle and another 30mw steam- turbine unit-will be installed as combined in the project.
Of these, he said, the first gas-turbine unit will go into operation in October next while the second gas turbine start production in April next year. "The last steam-turbine unit, a combined-cycle one, will come into production by the middle of next year," he added.
The project manager admitted that, initially, the works at the project site got delayed due to delay in land handover to the contractor. "But now, work is progressing in a satisfactory manner and we hope to complete it in time."
Besides, after an inordinate delay for more than three years, the Westmont authorities recently informed the Power Ministry in writing that its 40mw combined-cycle unit would start production by December 31.
The Malaysia-based company also promised to install its 90mw unit by June 2008.