Power plants set for green light

The government is set to approve eight power plants to be built, owned and operated by the private sector, in a bid to tackle the country’s growing energy crisis.The plants, mostly coal-based, will be able to generate 2,706 megawatts (MW) of power.The proposals may be placed by the power division at today’s meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase.The power division, on the basis of proposed tariff rates, has recommended awarding the work for two of the plants in Dhaka with generation capacity between 600 and 800MW to Orion Power and Associates. The company’s proposed tariff rate is Tk 6.69 per kilowatt (kW).The company has been recommended for another coal-based power plant of 100 to 300MW to be set up in Chittagong. Orion Power’s proposed tariff rate for the plant is Tk 6.72 per kW.The division recommended another power plant of 600 to 800MW capacity for Chittagong. It will be a joint venture of S Alam Steel Ltd, S Alam Super Edible Oil Ltd, S Alam Cement Ltd and HTG Development Group Co Ltd. The proposed tariff rate for the plant is Tk 6.60 a kW.Another plant with capacity of 100 to 300MW and tariff rate Tk 6.79 a kW was recommended for Barisal. The Power Division also recommended setting up another power plant at Barisal with capacity of 100 to 300MW and tariff rate of Tk 6.79 per kW.The other three power plants with total generation capacity of 200MW will be set up at Fenchuganj, Barisal and Narayanganj.