7 fast-track projects worth $40b pick up speed at last

Projects have gained traction despite time overruns, finds PMO monitoring committee

Most of the 10 top-priority Fast-Track Projects, which entail costs totalling some USD 40 billion, are now proceeding apace, even though some of them are a few years behind schedule, noted a summary of the fast-track monitoring committee of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The projects are: the Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB), Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, the 1,320-MW Rampal Super Thermal Power Project, Materbari 1,200-MW Ultra Super-Critical Coal-fired Power Project, Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (metro rail), Payra Sea Port, Padma Rail Link, Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar single-line dual-gauge rail track, Sonadia Deep Sea Port and Kutubdia LNG Terminal.
Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB)
Though allegations have been levelled that the progress of the execution of the Padma Bridge is far behind the target—which has prompted the government to initiate reappraisal of the performance of the two foreign contractors of the mega project—the monitoring committee has showed good achievement.
The Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (PMBP) office has informed the respective headquarters about the "unsatisfactory" performance of China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Company Limited and Sinohydro Corporation Limited. Owing to their inability to meet respective targets of implementation, the sources said the authorities have also sent back some experts of the two companies.
However, the committee said the project's overall progress till February was 40.50 per cent, with the construction work of the main bridge constituting 35.50 per cent and river training 29 per cent, Jajira side approach road 91 per cent, Mawa side approach road 100 per cent, and service area (2) 100 per cent.
The summary noted that a total of Tk. 10,988.57 crore has been spent of a total cost of Tk. 28,793.39 crore till June 2016, and Tk. 1796.56 crore till February of the current fiscal outlay of Tk. 6,026.48 crore allocated for the current annual development programme (ADP).  
 Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in December 2016 approved the country’s biggest-ever project, the ‘Establishment of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (main phase)’, at an estimated cost of Tk. 1,13,092.91 crore. The project would entail the construction of two units of a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2,400 MW.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) under the science and technology ministry will implement the main phase of the mega project by December 2025. Of the total project cost, Tk. 22,052.91 crore will come from the state exchequer while the rest—Tk. 91,040 crore—will come as assistance from the Russian Federation.
The main operations under the project are the installation of two units of the nuclear power plants, each having a capacity of 1,200MW, as well as the formulation of detailed design, training, procurement of necessary equipment and LTME, procurement of nuclear energy, commissioning and testing, and appointment of necessary manpower in various phases of the project management unit.
Meanwhile, the Russian government has approved a loan of up to USD 11.38 billion to build the nuclear power plant. The loan will be used for the construction of the plant from 2017 to 2024. Bangladesh will repay the money over 20 years in equal semi-annual instalments starting from March 15, 2027.
The summary said the first, second, and third agreements have been satisfactorily implemented. The fourth agreement is going on and is likely to be completed by April. From its inception in June 2016, the implementing agency spent Tk. 4,617.92 crore of the total cost. Besides, Tk. 157.35 crore has been spent till February of the total allocated Tk. 618 crore of the current fiscal year, which is 25.46 per cent of the allocation for this fiscal year.
 Rampal Power Plant: The project has been undertaken at a cost of Tk. 15,918.95 crore for the period from July 2009 to June 2020. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the National Thermal Power Company (NTPC) of India are jointly implementing the project. The report said the appointment of the ‘owner engineer’ and coal consultant, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) clearance and the establishment of the 33/11 KV substation-1 have been completed, while the rest of the work is going on as per the work plan. From the beginning of the project till February, Tk. 276.65 crore has been spent.
Materbari 1,200-MW Ultra Super-Critical Coal-Fired Power Plant: In order to achieve stable electricity supplies in Bangladesh by constructing a coal-fired power plant and related facilities in the Chittagong region and thereby contribute to the sustainable economic growth of Bangladesh, the government is implementing this project at a cost of Tk. 35,984.46 crore, with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
In March 2016, the ECNEC approved the ‘Materbari 2X600 MW Ultra Super-Critical Coal-Fired Power Plant project’, one of the largest projects in the country’s power sector, involving Tk. 35,984.46 crore with the aim to significantly boost power generation. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by June 2023.
Ultra super-critical technology will be used in the Materbari project, which will have a work efficiency of 42 per cent, higher than the average work efficiency of other coal-based power plants (34 per cent) in Bangladesh. The work efficiency of power plants in the US is 36 per cent.
By February, land was handed over to Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) and EIA clearance work was completed. Some 90 per cent of boundary fencing construction was completed. Besides, the appointment of a consultant for the project is about to be finalised, while the construction of a substation and transmission line is underway.
Dohazari–Ramu–Cox’s Bazar single-line dual-gauge rail track: Aiming to bring the tourist city of Cox’s Bazar into the railway network, the construction work on the 100.83-km Dohazari–Ramu–Cox’s Bazar single-line dual-gauge rail track will begin in July 2017.
On 28 September 2016, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved around Tk. 12,000 crore (USD 1.5 billion) for the mega project. This loan is the largest-ever investment in railways by ADB.
The Bangladesh Railway has already invited tenders for Tk. 18,034 crore to construct a 100.83-km single-line dual-gauge track from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu and another 28.752-km single-line dual-gauge track from Ramu to Gundum near the Myanmar border. Of the total project cost, Tk. 6,034 crore will come from the national exchequer, while Tk. 12,000 crore (USD 1.5 billion) will be available as project assistance from the ADB. The ADB will release the fund in four phases (USD 300, 400, 500, 300 million).
The acquisition of some 1,742 acres of land is nearly completed while the ADB team has completed the updated feasibility study of the project. The government planned to complete the track from the Dohazari–Ramu–Cox’s Bazar portion by 2020, though the entire project is expected to be completed by 2022.
Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (metro rail): Bangladesh undertook the project at a cost of Tk. 35,984.46 crore with the JICA’s financial cooperation, aiming to execute it from July 2012 to June 2024. The report said the agreement on contract (Package 1) has been signed with Tokyo Construction Company Limited. The tenders for the remaining two to eight contract packages are ongoing. From the start, the implementing agency spent Tk. 902.53 crore and the Planning Commission allocated Tk. 226.82 crore for this fiscal year. Till February, 4.55 per cent of the financial progress has been achieved.
Kutubdia LNG terminal: In December 2016, Petronet LNG Ltd of India signed a MoU with the state-owned energy company, Petrobangla, for a separate land-based terminal, to be built on the island of Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar district. Original design plans for that terminal called for a capacity of 5.00 million metric tons per year (mt/year) although Petronet convinced Bangladesh to set the initial capacity at 7.50 million mt/year and incorporate plans to increase further to 10.00 million mt/year. The project is initially scheduled to start operations in 2020.
In June 2016, Bangladesh approved a proposal for a gas-fired power project and an FSRU proposed by Reliance Power Ltd. In December 2016, Excelerate Energy announced it has completed the required geotechnical and geophysical studies for the Maheshkhali FLNG terminal, with a target of delivering the first LNG in early 2018.  
However, no significant progress has been made in the Payra sea port, Padma Rail Link and Sonadia Deep Sea Port projects.

7 fast-track projects worth $40b pick up speed at last

Projects have gained traction despite time overruns, finds PMO monitoring committee

Most of the 10 top-priority Fast-Track Projects, which entail costs totalling some USD 40 billion, are now proceeding apace, even though some of them are a few years behind schedule, noted a summary of the fast-track monitoring committee of the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). The projects are: the Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB), Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, the 1,320-MW Rampal Super Thermal Power Project, Materbari 1,200-MW Ultra Super-Critical Coal-fired Power Project, Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (metro rail), Payra Sea Port, Padma Rail Link, Dohazari-Ramu-Coxs Bazar single-line dual-gauge rail track, Sonadia Deep Sea Port and Kutubdia LNG Terminal. Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) Though allegations have been levelled that the progress of the execution of the Padma Bridge is far behind the targetwhich has prompted the government to initiate reappraisal of the performance of the two foreign contractors of the mega projectthe monitoring committee has showed good achievement. The Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (PMBP) office has informed the respective headquarters about the unsatisfactory performance of China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Company Limited and Sinohydro Corporation Limited. Owing to their inability to meet respective targets of implementation, the sources said the authorities have also sent back some experts of the two companies. However, the committee said the projects overall progress till February was 40.50 per cent, with the construction work of the main bridge constituting 35.50 per cent and river training 29 per cent, Jajira side approach road 91 per cent, Mawa side approach road 100 per cent, and service area (2) 100 per cent. The summary noted that a total of Tk. 10,988.57 crore has been spent of a total cost of Tk. 28,793.39 crore till June 2016, and Tk. 1796.56 crore till February of the current fiscal outlay of Tk. 6,026.48 crore allocated for the current annual development programme (ADP). Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in December 2016 approved the countrys biggest-ever project, the Establishment of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (main phase), at an estimated cost of Tk. 1,13,092.91 crore. The project would entail the construction of two units of a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2,400 MW. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) under the science and technology ministry will implement the main phase of the mega project by December 2025. Of the total project cost, Tk. 22,052.91 crore will come from the state exchequer while the restTk. 91,040 crorewill come as assistance from the Russian Federation. The main operations under the project are the installation of two units of the nuclear power plants, each having a capacity of 1,200MW, as well as the formulation of detailed design, training, procurement of necessary equipment and LTME, procurement of nuclear energy, commissioning and testing, and appointment of necessary manpower in various phases of the project management unit. Meanwhile, the Russian government has approved a loan of up to USD 11.38 billion to build the nuclear power plant. The loan will be used for the construction of the plant from 2017 to 2024. Bangladesh will repay the money over 20 years in equal semi-annual instalments starting from March 15, 2027. The summary said the first, second, and third agreements have been satisfactorily implemented. The fourth agreement is going on and is likely to be completed by April. From its inception in June 2016, the implementing agency spent Tk. 4,617.92 crore of the total cost. Besides, Tk. 157.35 crore has been spent till February of the total allocated Tk. 618 crore of the current fiscal year, which is 25.46 per cent of the allocation for this fiscal year. Rampal Power Plant: The project has been undertaken at a cost of Tk. 15,918.95 crore for the period from July 2009 to June 2020. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the National Thermal Power Company (NTPC) of India are jointly implementing the project. The report said the appointment of the owner engineer and coal consultant, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) clearance and the establishment of the 33/11 KV substation-1 have been completed, while the rest of the work is going on as per the work plan. From the beginning of the project till February, Tk. 276.65 crore has been spent. Materbari 1,200-MW Ultra Super-Critical Coal-Fired Power Plant: In order to achieve stable electricity supplies in Bangladesh by constructing a coal-fired power plant and related facilities in the Chittagong region and thereby contribute to the sustainable economic growth of Bangladesh, the government is implementing this project at a cost of Tk. 35,984.46 crore, with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In March 2016, the ECNEC approved the Materbari 2X600 MW Ultra Super-Critical Coal-Fired Power Plant project, one of the largest projects in the countrys power sector, involving Tk. 35,984.46 crore with the aim to significantly boost power generation. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by June 2023. Ultra super-critical technology will be used in the Materbari project, which will have a work efficiency of 42 per cent, higher than the average work efficiency of other coal-based power plants (34 per cent) in Bangladesh. The work efficiency of power plants in the US is 36 per cent. By February, land was handed over to Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) and EIA clearance work was completed. Some 90 per cent of boundary fencing construction was completed. Besides, the appointment of a consultant for the project is about to be finalised, while the construction of a substation and transmission line is underway. DohazariRamuCoxs Bazar single-line dual-gauge rail track: Aiming to bring the tourist city of Coxs Bazar into the railway network, the construction work on the 100.83-km DohazariRamuCoxs Bazar single-line dual-gauge rail track will begin in July 2017. On 28 September 2016, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved around Tk. 12,000 crore (USD 1.5 billion) for the mega project. This loan is the largest-ever investment in railways by ADB. The Bangladesh Railway has already invited tenders for Tk. 18,034 crore to construct a 100.83-km single-line dual-gauge track from Dohazari to Coxs Bazar via Ramu and another 28.752-km single-line dual-gauge track from Ramu to Gundum near the Myanmar border. Of the total project cost, Tk. 6,034 crore will come from the national exchequer, while Tk. 12,000 crore (USD 1.5 billion) will be available as project assistance from the ADB. The ADB will release the fund in four phases (USD 300, 400, 500, 300 million). The acquisition of some 1,742 acres of land is nearly completed while the ADB team has completed the updated feasibility study of the project. The government planned to complete the track from the DohazariRamuCoxs Bazar portion by 2020, though the entire project is expected to be completed by 2022. Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (metro rail): Bangladesh undertook the project at a cost of Tk. 35,984.46 crore with the JICAs financial cooperation, aiming to execute it from July 2012 to June 2024. The report said the agreement on contract (Package 1) has been signed with Tokyo Construction Company Limited. The tenders for the remaining two to eight contract packages are ongoing. From the start, the implementing agency spent Tk. 902.53 crore and the Planning Commission allocated Tk. 226.82 crore for this fiscal year. Till February, 4.55 per cent of the financial progress has been achieved. Kutubdia LNG terminal: In December 2016, Petronet LNG Ltd of India signed a MoU with the state-owned energy company, Petrobangla, for a separate land-based terminal, to be built on the island of Kutubdia in Coxs Bazar district. Original design plans for that terminal called for a capacity of 5.00 million metric tons per year (mt/year) although Petronet convinced Bangladesh to set the initial capacity at 7.50 million mt/year and incorporate plans to increase further to 10.00 million mt/year. The project is initially scheduled to start operations in 2020. In June 2016, Bangladesh approved a proposal for a gas-fired power project and an FSRU proposed by Reliance Power Ltd. In December 2016, Excelerate Energy announced it has completed the required geotechnical and geophysical studies for the Maheshkhali FLNG terminal, with a target of delivering the first LNG in early 2018. However, no significant progress has been made in the Payra sea port, Padma Rail Link and Sonadia Deep Sea Port projects.