DINAJPUR, Oct 22: Arrangements are underway in Barapukuria thermal plant near Parbatipur upazila here for adding the third unit at a cost of Tk 2,040 crore to increase the production capacity of the plant from 250 megawatt (mw) to 525mw.
With the completion of this new unit, the crisis of electricity and the current problem of low voltage in north-western region of the country will be over.
The installation of the expanded production unit is scheduled to be completed by June, 2018.
According to sources, a 250mw power plant was established at the mouth of Barapukuria coal mining project near Parbatipur in the district. Each of the units produces 125mw electricity. Presently, the process to raise the production capacity is underway which will add 275mw more electricity, the source pointed out.
Earlier, an international tender was floated on December 26, 2011 under 'Buyer's Credit' and three foreign construction companies participated in the process. Among the submitted tenders, one was cancelled which led to primary selection of two tenders of a joint venture of China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation and Shanghai Electric Group Company CMC/SEC Consortium and the other joint venture of Harbin Electric International and CCC Engineering Company Limited of China.
Within the credit, the Harbin Electric International and the CCC Engineering Company submitted their proposal incorporating couple of conditions including US$ 248.98 million, an interest of 3.25 per cent per annum within payment of 20 instalments in 10 years and a 3-year-long grace period during the construction. The implementation of the project will need US$ 908.986 million, and with the added interest the total cost would be US$ 1000.68 million.
Another consortium CMC/SEC proposed for more cost and provisions in their submitted tenders. But, their performance was not up to the mark. Besides, the consortium installed low-standard machines in the two former units. As a result, the power plant could not go for full power production.
The source said, the tender committee of PDB, after computing all segments of the tender submitted by the Harbin Electric International and the CCC Engineering Company of China, finally selected them as the lowest bidders.
The committee later recommended the concerned tender and sent it for government approval on October 23, 2012. The government purchase committee approved the tender on March 13, 2013. Subsequently a contract to this effect was signed between the two sides on July 4 of the same year. Following the implementation of the contact with effect from July 15, piling works have been started as per terms.
The estimated time of the project completion is three years. While visiting the project site at the northern side of Boropukuria thermal plant (boiler and machine buildings), this correspondent saw the undergoing piling works.
Chief Engineer of Barapukuria Thermal Plant Sharath Chandra Bhaduri and Executive Engineer (In-Charge) Mahbubur Rahman informed that the number 3 unit will have both boiler and gas turbine systems and is expected to go for production in June of 2018. Both the engineers hoped of completing the project before three months of the stipulated time.
After the completion of the number 3 unit, the consumers of north-western region will enjoy full benefits of power supply, they hoped. The extended plant will require six lakh tonnes of coal which will also render the best uses of the Barapukuria coal mining project.