DHAKA: Indo-Bangla power joint venture is set to award the construction of the plant by April 2015 and expected to start commercial generation by 2018.

The power plant will cost around USD 1.2 billion.

Arup Roy Choudhury, CMD of NTPC said, “We expect to award the contract next year. The company has recently appointed Fichtner Consulting Engineers and is in the process of finalizing a consultant who will help in sourcing coal for the project.”

Choudhury also said that the plant is likely to consume around 8 million tonnes of coal every year and the entire generation will be based on coal imported into Bangladesh.

Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited is 50:50 JV between Bangladesh Power Development Board and NTPC. The first project of this venture is the 1,320MW Maitree Project at Rampal in Bagerhat district under Khulna Division in Bangladesh.

A few pending issues were ironed out at the ninth board meeting of the company that held in Kolkata for the first time with Bangladeshi power secretary on July 29, before the tenders are invited for setting up the plant.

The land has been provided by Bangladesh Government and NTPC will set up two 660 mw units at the location. NTPC's expertise will also be used in running the plant.

Monowar Islam, secretary power of Bangladesh government, said that “Following successful implementation of the project, the joint venture may look into setting up additional projects in the country.”

Islam said that at present, Bangladesh faces a total demand of about 7,500MW. A total 500MW is sourced from India of which 250MW is from NTPC.

Source: steelguru.com

BDST: 1238 HRS, JUL 31, 2014