CHATTOGRAM, Sept 19: Implementation of the 438 MW Combined Cycle Power plant in Raozan at the site of existing two 420 MW capacity power plants has become uncertain.
According to Power Development Board (PDB) sources, authorities took no step to implement the project.
PDB had taken the project at a cost of Tk 2,087 crore.
After re-tender the cost of the project increased to Tk 2187 crore. Six years ago, the government took the decision to set up the 438 MW Combined Cycle Power plant in Raozan at the site of existing two 420 MW capacity power plant.
The proposed 438 MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant was supposed to be built on the PDB's own land adjacent to the existing Raozan 420 MW thermal power plant.
A contractor for construction of the plant was n selected, but the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) did not approve the contractor. PDB had selected CNTIC-CMC Consortium of China as it was the lowest bidder.
According to Ministry sources, earlier one Chinese firm Sepco had been selected as a contractor as the lowest bidder.
As usual, the Notification of Award (NOA) had been issued for signing an agreement within a stipulated time. But the selected firm did not sign the agreement.
Sources said that the firm had demanded enhancement of project cost due to increased cost of construction materials after the Pandemic.
The Ministry cancelled the tender and decided to invited fresh tender. The proposed project will use100 million cubic feet of gas as fuel.
Both the existing thermal power stations set up using Chinese generators are facing problems from the very beginning. The first unit of Raozan 210 MW Thermal Power Station set up in 1990 at a cost of Tk 664 crore with technical and financial assistance of Chinese firm CMEC, went into operation in July 1993. The second unit of Raozan 210 MW Power Station was set up by the Chinese firm CMEC in July 1994 at a cost of Tk 538 crore which went into operation in September 1997.
Since the beginning, the first unit faced mechanical faults for about 500 times and the second unit developed faults 300 times. It takes at least 72 hours to resume generation if any unit develops mechanical faults.
None of the two units could be run to their in full capacity to generate 210 MW. PDB sources said that both two units in Raozan would be shut down after commissioning of the new plant. Currently, both the units are inoperative as their plants are defective.
