Deal signed with China to set up power plant

Bangladesh on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China to set up a 1320-MW coal-based power plant in Patuakhali, a location also close to the Sundarbans. According to Chinese Ambassador Li Jun in Dhaka, who was present at the deal signing ceremony, the project will involve a cost of about $2 billion. This will be the second such project after the 1320MW Rampal power project in Bagerhat for which Bangladesh signed a contract with neighbouring India. Bangladeshi state-owned North West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) and Chinese state-owned China National Machinery Import Export Corporation (CMC) will build the power plant under a joint venture. Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury said this is the part of the government’s plan to boost electricity generation by setting up coal-fired power plants, according to a news agency.