Dhaka, KL sign jt venture deal for Maheshkhali power plant

Bangladesh singed a joint venture agreement with Malaysia yesterday to set up a 1320 MW coal-fired power plant in Maheshkhali, Chittagong, reports UNB.
Bangladesh state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) represented Dhaka while a consortium of two Malaysian companies-Tenaga Nasinol Berhad (TNB) I Powertek Energy Sdn Berhad (PESB) represented Kuala Lumpur in the project.
PDB chairman Shamsul Hasan Mia, TNB president Datuk Seri Ir Azman Mohammad and PESB director Dato Mark William Ling Lee Meng signed the contract on behalf of their respective companies at a function in Putrajaya. Power secretary Monwar Islam was also present on the occasion.
State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid, who is leading a Bangladesh Power Ministry delegation in Malaysia, said Bangladesh would try to utilise Malaysian experience in power generation and management to ensure sustainable development in its power sector.
“We can follow the examples of cost effectiveness through using the best technology,” he told the function adding that Malaysian companies are involved in different power plant projects having the capacity of 900 MW.
He said such joint venture project will play a major role in strengthening the brotherly relations between the two nations.
The proposed power plant will have two thermal units with 660-MW capacity each where Bangladesh and Malaysia have 50:50 equity investments.
The deal is similar of some previous deals signed between Dhaka and New Delhi for setting up Rampal power plant and also between Dhaka and Beijing for Paira power plant, said a Power Division official.
Earlier in September 2014, the Bangladesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Dhaka with the Malaysian government to set up the power plant under joint venture.
A Power Division statement said the project’s estimated cost might be $2.5 billion. Officials said the project will be implemented through 70 percent debt under a separate company which will implement the project on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis by 2020.
The company will appoint an EPC contractor through tender following the completion of land development and other procedures.
Under the project, two 660 MW ultra super critical coal-based power plants will be built on 550 acres of land at Hetalia and Amabassaya Khali Union:Haonok under Maheshkhali upazila in Cox’s Bazar.
Imported coal with low sulphur, low moisture content and high calorific value will be used as fuel in the project, with 11,000 tonnes of coal needed a day.
PDB director Mahbubur Rahman said this will be the first project to be set up in Maheshkhali where the government plans to build a ‘power hub’ with a total capacity of 9000 MW. Of this, the coal-fired power plant will generate 6000 MW of power while LNG-based power plant 3000 MW.

Dhaka, KL sign jt venture deal for Maheshkhali power plant

Bangladesh singed a joint venture agreement with Malaysia yesterday to set up a 1320 MW coal-fired power plant in Maheshkhali, Chittagong, reports UNB. Bangladesh state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) represented Dhaka while a consortium of two Malaysian companies-Tenaga Nasinol Berhad (TNB) I Powertek Energy Sdn Berhad (PESB) represented Kuala Lumpur in the project. PDB chairman Shamsul Hasan Mia, TNB president Datuk Seri Ir Azman Mohammad and PESB director Dato Mark William Ling Lee Meng signed the contract on behalf of their respective companies at a function in Putrajaya. Power secretary Monwar Islam was also present on the occasion. State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid, who is leading a Bangladesh Power Ministry delegation in Malaysia, said Bangladesh would try to utilise Malaysian experience in power generation and management to ensure sustainable development in its power sector. We can follow the examples of cost effectiveness through using the best technology, he told the function adding that Malaysian companies are involved in different power plant projects having the capacity of 900 MW. He said such joint venture project will play a major role in strengthening the brotherly relations between the two nations. The proposed power plant will have two thermal units with 660-MW capacity each where Bangladesh and Malaysia have 50:50 equity investments. The deal is similar of some previous deals signed between Dhaka and New Delhi for setting up Rampal power plant and also between Dhaka and Beijing for Paira power plant, said a Power Division official. Earlier in September 2014, the Bangladesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Dhaka with the Malaysian government to set up the power plant under joint venture. A Power Division statement said the projects estimated cost might be $2.5 billion. Officials said the project will be implemented through 70 percent debt under a separate company which will implement the project on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis by 2020. The company will appoint an EPC contractor through tender following the completion of land development and other procedures. Under the project, two 660 MW ultra super critical coal-based power plants will be built on 550 acres of land at Hetalia and Amabassaya Khali Union:Haonok under Maheshkhali upazila in Coxs Bazar. Imported coal with low sulphur, low moisture content and high calorific value will be used as fuel in the project, with 11,000 tonnes of coal needed a day. PDB director Mahbubur Rahman said this will be the first project to be set up in Maheshkhali where the government plans to build a power hub with a total capacity of 9000 MW. Of this, the coal-fired power plant will generate 6000 MW of power while LNG-based power plant 3000 MW.