Local firms want bidding criteria relaxed for bigger power plants
Friday, 26 December 2008
FE Report
Bangladesh Energy Companies Association (BECA) has urged the government to ease the pre-qualification criteria for installation of big power plants to ensure participation of an increasing number of local companies in bidding.
The BECA sent a letter Sunday to Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Prof M Tamim in this regard requesting review of the criteria so that local entrepreneurs can participate in the bidding.
"We expect that your ministry finalise the pre-qualification documents on 450 megawatt (MW) power projects to facilitate participation of the local companies," the BECA stated in its letter.
It said stringent pre-qualification criteria are one of the reasons that hit hard installation of bigger size power plants like the 450 MW projects.
Since installation of the Meghnaghat 450 MW power plant in 2001, no other power plant of this size has been set up, although the government has tried to implement a number of projects, the BECA letter said.
Only few foreign companies qualified for the projects due to the stringent criteria.
Despite the sincere effort of the ministry concerned and the pre-qualification criteria relaxed in line with the recommendations of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Asia Development Bank (ADB), only few foreign companies were able to qualify for the Bibiyana 450 MW power plant project.
The Bibiyana power plant got only one bidder, which was later rejected and re-tendering was planned.
The Sirajganj 450 MW power plant project has been abandoned due to lukewarm response from the pre-qualified companies.
Bangladesh Energy Companies Association (BECA) has urged the government to ease the pre-qualification criteria for installation of big power plants to ensure participation of an increasing number of local companies in bidding.
The BECA sent a letter Sunday to Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Prof M Tamim in this regard requesting review of the criteria so that local entrepreneurs can participate in the bidding.
"We expect that your ministry finalise the pre-qualification documents on 450 megawatt (MW) power projects to facilitate participation of the local companies," the BECA stated in its letter.
It said stringent pre-qualification criteria are one of the reasons that hit hard installation of bigger size power plants like the 450 MW projects.
Since installation of the Meghnaghat 450 MW power plant in 2001, no other power plant of this size has been set up, although the government has tried to implement a number of projects, the BECA letter said.
Only few foreign companies qualified for the projects due to the stringent criteria.
Despite the sincere effort of the ministry concerned and the pre-qualification criteria relaxed in line with the recommendations of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Asia Development Bank (ADB), only few foreign companies were able to qualify for the Bibiyana 450 MW power plant project.
The Bibiyana power plant got only one bidder, which was later rejected and re-tendering was planned.
The Sirajganj 450 MW power plant project has been abandoned due to lukewarm response from the pre-qualified companies.