Bibiana power plant to miss deadline
Continuing
delays have already amplified the estimated costs while stretching the completion
time frame
It isnt the first time that a power plant expected to contribute in the national grid is about to fail in meeting its deadline. It was anticipated that the Bibiana South power plant would be completed by this year for generating some 383 MW of electricity from December, but due to one of its contractors repeated hold-ups, its future has now become uncertain. The contractor, reportedly a Spanish firm titled Isolux Ingenieria SA is allegedly procrastinating from carrying out construction at the plant on the grounds of security concerns which arose after the terrorist attack at a Gulshan cafe last July. However, an isolated terror attack cannot be a logical reason for acting against crucial terms and conditions of an international tender. Moreover, if security is the real concern, how the other contractor of the Bibiana plant, that is to say, Samsung CT Corporation manages to operate? Thats a foreign company and a stakeholder of the same project too.
The point, however, security isnt the major concern since the government had well ensured utmost security measures to all working foreigners, in the wake of the Gulshan incident. Refraining from working in such an important project without a valid reason is not acceptable on any counts. Either the Spanish firm will continue to work - aiming at quick completion or it should right away pull off from the Bibiana project. Also the firms reported submission of project bills through invoices without doing any work is not acceptable. Such unlawful practice merits the question of the firms professional integrity.
Sadly, by now the country has experienced how delayed implementation of big power plants has recurrently forced the government to depend more and more on costly oil-run rental and quick rental power plants. Additionally, the government was forced for raising power price frequently in last four years. Such malfunctioning of the energy sector must be immediately put to an end. According to PDB sources, it had asked both the foreign contractors to discuss the issue between themselves and report within a week so that the PDB can come to a conclusion. Given the gravity of the project completion they must act with due rapidity.
Otherwise, PDB should continue with what dims it fit blacklist the Spanish company in Bangladesh. Also the decision for floating a new tender, seeking a suitable contractor will have to come quick if the other South Korean firm declines to take up in completing the Spanish firms left behind job.
With regard to the project cost, continuing delays have already amplified the estimated costs while stretching the completion time frame. This is particularly worrying. The state-owned organisation must act fast.
