Govt to build 163 MW plant for Mirsarai EZ
Sinohydro to install it at a cost of $105m
FE Report | Tuesday, 6 February 2018
The government will build a 163 megawatt (MW) dedicated power plant for Mirsarai Economic Zone (MEZ) to supply electricity to the industrial units to be set up there.
BR Powergen Ltd, a joint venture (JV) of the two state-owned power companies - Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Rural Power Company Ltd (RPCL), will build the power plant at MEZ.
The newly-formed JV firm inked an engineering, procuring and construction agreement (EPC) with Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation Ltd at Biduyt Bhaban in the city on Monday to implement the power plant project.
Sinohydro will install the power plant as the EPC contractor within the next 15 months at a contract value of US$105 million (Tk 8.90 billion).
Speaking on the occasion, Executive Member (Planning and Development) of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Dr M Emdadul Haque said MEZ is being developed as the largest industrial zone in the country with a target to generate 150,000 new employments.
He said some 29 foreign and local firms have been allocated plots for setting up industries in MEZ.
The BEZA official said most of the investors in MEZ are asking for uninterrupted power supply and other utility supports like gas and water.
He expressed hope that the proposed power plant will help ensure uninterrupted power supply to MEZ.
A new law is underway to ensure one-stop service for the investors in the EZs, he added.
MEZ is being developed by the government with a target to come into operation within a year or two.
BEZA is developing the EZ on 7,716 acres of land with its own financing. But in future the zone will be extended to 30,000 acres of land.
The deal signing ceremony was also addressed by Power Division secretary Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, BPDB chairman Khaled Mahmood, RPCL managing director Abdus Sabur and Rural Electrification Board (REB) chairman Moin Uddin.
Investors in MEZ will get ample power supply once the power plant comes into operation, said Mr Kaikaus.
He urged the EPC contractor to complete the power plant project installation work with the contracted timeframe.